The Mende are a large tribe (population approximately 700,000) living primarily in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Their oral traditions indicate that they migrated to the area from Sudan between the 2nd and 16th centuries. They are traditionally growers of rice and several other crops, practicing crop rotation to protect soil productivity.

Mende is also a commune of France, in the Lozère département.

Mende was also a city of Ancient Greece, located on the Chalcidice peninsula in Macedonia. Mende was founded in 8th century BC by Greek settlers from Chalcis and Eretria.