The Mende ethnic group that are found primarily in the Southern and Eastern provinces of Sierra Leone have evolved a very spiritual civilization where the tenets of Justice, fair play, dignity of the human being, are sacrosanct. The Mende proclivity for Justice give non-Mendes - like Temnes, Gissis, Fullahs, Madingoes, Temnes, Limbas, Vais, Creoles, Lebanese...etc. - who settle in 'Mende-land' the confidence to intermarry with the Mendes, acquire land, and settle permanently in Mende territory. The keen sense of Justice which is the nexus of Mende religion and society (for example, it would be indeed rare for Mendes to adjudicate a case between a Mende and a non-Mende and where the Mende would do something which is starkly wrong and his Mende kith and kin side with the Mende because the other person is a 'foreigner') have build up the confidence of non-Mendes to get assimilated into what I can term as a 'Mende-speaking civilization'. So, today in the South-East, many people who are classified as 'Mendes' are really not as such Mendes 'by blood' - but, Fullahs, Madingoes, Temnes, Vais, Gissis, Sherbros, etc. - who have been assimilated by the Mende civilization.
Coachie Mansaray's words being dangerously misused
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