Mandinga pronounced Maan-jin-gaa is a term I came across while studying capoeira angola. It’s a mysterious word. I decided to delve into it to learn about its origins and meanings, and discovered a wealth of information about it. “Mandinga is a word of African origin. In its form “Mandinka” or “Mandingo” it is the name of a huge ethnic group in West Africa (Mandinkas are one part of the Mandè ethnicity).” Read more.