Eastern Maninka in Burkina Faso


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Eastern Maninka are a subgroup of a much larger people group known as the Mande, who inhabit the western portion of Africa's northern plains and coastal forests. The Maninka are known for their ingenuity and leadership qualities, as well as their trading, farming and mining abilities. They are the descendants of the people of the once great Mali Empire. The empire amassed a great fortune taxing the trade of gold and ivory in the region. Before becoming a part of the empire, the Mande were credited with revolutionizing agriculture in the area; they discovered the use of millet.

The Maninka speak a Manding language that is also called Maninka. Manding languages are spoken in many West African nations. Although some of these languages have no written script, their oral literature is regarded as some of the best in the world.


Where Are they Located?

Eastern Maninkas live all over West Africa, including Burkina Faso.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Eastern Maninka live in large, walled-in villages. Within the villages, families live in separate, fenced-in compounds. Their homes are round, thatch-roof huts made of mud and sun-dried brick. Few of the homes have electricity or running water. The Maninka primarily work as farmers, miners, or merchants. Cattle are also raised, but only to gain prestige within the community or to use in ceremonies.

While each village is ruled by its own chief, the oldest descendants of the first Maninka settlers are counted as nobility and also have a certain amount of authority. There is a clear social order among the Maninka that ranges from nobility to commoners. The lowest and most despised class consists of craftsmen and former slaves. Maninka society is patriarchal, or male-dominated. The line of descent is traced through the fathers, and inheritances are passed down through the males. Men commonly have more than one wife.

Some of the Maninka prefer living in cities where they can develop a trade or work in a service occupation. Nevertheless, while living in the cities, they usually remain attached to their villages in some way.

A typical Maninka meal consists of steamed rice covered with a spicy stew of vegetables and meat or fish. Mangoes, bananas, oranges, papayas, and cashews add balance to their diet.

The Maninkas value such characteristics as honesty, logical thinking, and the ability to speak in public. They do not approve of dishonesty. Ironically, however, many Maninkas use manipulation and deceit as methods of getting ahead in society. For this reason, they are a very suspicious people. Men rarely have close personal relationships with each other because they expect even their closest friends to be cunning and deceitful.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Eastern Maninkas have adapted the doctrines of Islam to their own beliefs, resulting in a wide variety of sects. Islam was first introduced in West Africa by Muslim merchants. Their desire was to enhance the region both religiously and culturally. Since the Maninkas were not required by Islamic leaders to abandon their old customs and mystical beliefs, Islam was simply mixed with their traditional religions. Divination, healing, and the casting of spells are all important parts of their religion. In fact, Maninka Islam approves and even encourages certain magical procedures-particularly those directed towards healing the sick, preventing misfortunes, and ensuring prosperity.

Sadly, fear plays a big role in the spiritual lives of the Maninka peoples. It is not uncommon for someone to first pray in the village mosque, and then sacrifice a chicken to the spirit of the land on which his village rests. Practically every villager has at least one or two charms in his possession.


What Are Their Needs?

Although evangelistic tools such as the New Testament and the JESUS Film have been made available to the Maninkas, the villagers are very reluctant to accept Christ. Prayer is the key to reaching these precious souls with the gospel of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into Burkina Faso.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to mission agencies focusing on the Maninka peoples.
Pray for the effectiveness of the JESUS Film among the Eastern Maninkas.
Pray that God will give Maninka believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Maninka church for the glory of His name.


Scripture Prayers for the Maninka, Eastern in Burkina Faso.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/13511/GV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandinka_people
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2008/02/25


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Maninka, Eastern
People Name in Country Maninka, Eastern
Natural Name Eastern Maninka
Pronunciation mah-NEENG-kah
Alternate Names Konyanke; Mandingo; Mandinka; South Maninka; Wangara
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 4,444,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 13511
ROP3 Code 106265
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)
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)

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.20 %)
1.50 %
Ethnic Religions
40.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
58.50 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %

Primary Language:  Maninkakan, Eastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1931-1964)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1932-1993)
Bible-Complete No
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 Maninkakan, Eastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: Way of Righteousness Rock International
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  International Mission Board-SBC  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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