Bambara in Burkina Faso


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Islam (Sunni)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Bambara are among the most powerful and influential groups in Mali, but they also live in Burkina Faso. The Bambara live in the middle valley of the Niger River. They speak Bamana, which is one of the Manding languages.

During the 1700s, there were two Bambara kingdoms: Segu and Karta. In the 1800s, militant Muslim groups overthrew these kingdoms, leaving only a few anti-Muslim Bambara warlords to resist their occupation. This lasted 40 years, until the arrival of the French. A very small number of the Bambara had converted to Islam by 1912. After World War II, the number of Muslim converts grew due to their resistance to the French and their exposure to Muslim merchants. Today, the Bambara are mostly Muslim.


Where Are they Located?

Bambara people are spread out into many West African countries. They are among the most powerful and influential people in this region.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Bambara are farmers. Their staple crop is millet, although sorghum and groundnuts are produced in large quantities. Maize, tobacco, cassava, and various other vegetables are also grown in private gardens. Unfortunately, drought and other ecological problems have hurt the farmers in recent years.

Bambara farmers also raise cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and chickens. The neighboring Fulani herdsmen are often trusted to herd the Bambara livestock. This allows the Bambara to concentrate on farming during the short rainy season.

Many of the Bambara hunt animals such as antelope, boar, ostrich, and guinea fowl for their meat and skins. They also gather a large amount of honey from the wild bees in the area.

Both men and women share the farming duties. However, the wives usually arrive in the fields later and leave earlier than the men. This gives them time to prepare the morning and evening meals. Children between the ages of 12 and 14 also help with the family's work, leading the oxen as they plow and guarding them during rest periods.

Each Bambara village is made up of many different households, usually all from one lineage or extended family. Every household, or gwa, is responsible to provide for all of its members, as well as to help them with their farming duties. Bambara homes are typically larger than the homes of most other West African groups. Some of the houses contain as many as 60 or more family members. The members of each gwa work together every day except for Mondays. Monday is market day and the traditional day of rest.

Islamic schools have been set up in some of the Bambara villages. However, many of the non-Muslim villages have failed to establish schools simply because the children are needed to stay home and help with the farming. For this reason, some village populations are entirely illiterate.

Marriage is very important to the Bambara people. Although the cost of a wedding is high, it is viewed as a type of "investment." The main purpose for marriage is to have children, which provide the family's labor force and ensure the future of the family lineage. The average Bambara woman has eight children. Even elderly widows in their 70s or 80s have suitors because the Bambara believe that a wife increases a man's prestige.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although most Bambaras claim to be Muslim, many still follow their traditional beliefs such as ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors for guidance and protection). The Bambara believe that the ancestral spirits may take on the forms of animals or even vegetables. In special ceremonies, the spirits are worshipped and presented with offerings of flour and water. The eldest member of a lineage acts as the "mediator" between the living and the dead.


What Are Their Needs?

Several mission agencies are currently focusing on the Bambara people, and there has been some progress in convincing them that Jesus offers much more. Prayer is the key to tearing down the spiritual strongholds that are keeping them from knowing the truth.


Prayer Points

Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to the mission agencies that are currently focusing on the Bambara people in West Africa.
Pray that God will raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the spiritual soil of Burkina Faso through intercession.
Pray for the effectiveness of the JESUS Film among the Bambara people.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will complete the work begun in the hearts of the Bambara believers through adequate discipleship.
Pray that God will give the Bambara believers boldness to share the love of Jesus with their own people.


Scripture Prayers for the Bambara in Burkina Faso.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/10617/ML
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/10617/NG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambara_people
https://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/bambara.htm
http://africaimports.com/bambara-people-group.asp
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bambara
https://bambarainfo.wikispaces.com/Bambara+Overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0wFW-IP1do
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2010/02/19
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2008/02/12
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2007/01/12


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Bambara
People Name in Country Bambara
Pronunciation BOM-buh-ruh
Alternate Names Bamanakan; Kpeera; Noumou
Population this Country 7,600
Population all Countries 7,428,000
Total Countries 12
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 10617
ROP3 Code 100925
Country Burkina Faso
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 20  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kénédougou Province, near N'Dorola   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Country Burkina Faso
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 20  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kénédougou Province, near N'Dorola.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.


Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam (Sunni)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.80 %)
4.00 %
Ethnic Religions
23.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
73.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bamanankan (7,600 speakers)
Language Code bam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bamanankan (7,600 speakers)
Language Code bam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bamanankan

Primary Language:  Bamanankan

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1923-1942)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1933)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1961-2019)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bamanankan Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bible - Mali (Bambara, Boomu, Dogon, Khassonke) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Health - French and Bambara with audio Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Luka Kitabu Kalansenw (Sunday School programme resources) Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  GoWestAfrica  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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