Bolon in Mali


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Bolon live in western Burkina Faso in a land of savannah, small forests and wet season marshes.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The people spend their lives farming and managing small herds of cattle, goats and sheep. Daily food includes millet, corn, sesame and groundnuts. Tobacco is a cash crop. Villagers use wood and charcoal for fuel and live in mud houses built around a central courtyard.

Extended families live close together, and the male head of the family has almost unlimited power over the other members. Each village is organized in a strict hierarchy according to sections, families and age classes. Each clan interprets customs differently, and thus dances and other ceremonies vary greatly from one village to another.

The people as a whole are known for their complex masks, which are very distinct from, and respected and feared by neighboring groups. The Bolon coexist with neighbors out of necessity, but prohibit intermarriage with the Senoufo, and will not tolerate Senoufo living in Bolon areas. The Bolon have retained their heritage and character despite years of outside contact.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of villagers follow the traditional religion, and there is only one known Christian. Many are Muslims.


What Are Their Needs?

A low literacy rate may make audio-visual presentations of the gospel necessary.


Prayer Points

Pray for Bolon people to have such a desire for truth and righteousness that they will embrace Christ no matter what the cost in their communities.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out loving workers.
Pray for Bolon people to learn and teach from the Bible, leading many to become Christ’s disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Bolon in Mali.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bolon
People Name in Country Bolon
Alternate Names
Population this Country 14,000
Population all Countries 52,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 10920
ROP3 Code 101573
Country Mali
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 14  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Ségou region: Tominian circle (7 villages) and San circle (2 villages).   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Mali
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 14  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Ségou region: Tominian circle (7 villages) and San circle (2 villages)..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.10 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
7.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
90.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bolon (14,000 speakers)
Language Code bof   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bolon (14,000 speakers)
Language Code bof   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bolon

Primary Language:  Bolon

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  GoWestAfrica  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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