Kita Maninka in Mali

The Kita Maninka have only been reported in Mali
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The 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, which has been a staple grain in Africa ever since.

There are a couple of different Maninka subgroups, including the Kita Maninka.


Where Are they Located?

The Maninka people live in nine West African countries, including Mali.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Within Kita Maninka 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. Those with the highest status are, surprisingly, the musicians and the blacksmiths. When a Maninka singer dies, his library of original music must be burned. The Maninka people believe that blacksmiths have magical powers. The lowest and most despised class consists of 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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of the Kita Maninka are Muslim. However, their Islamic beliefs have been blended with their traditional beliefs, which involved worshiping the spirits of the land. Healing, magic, and divination are also important aspects of their traditional religion. It is not uncommon for someone to first pray in the village mosque, then sacrifice a chicken to the village spirit.

Many of the Maninka consult marabouts (Muslim holy men) for healing, protective amulets, or insight into the future. Educated villagers may conceal their beliefs in magic, yet, most of them still carry amulets.


What Are Their Needs?

Very few of the Maninka follow Christ. Although some Christian resources are available to them, the Maninka seem extremely devoted to their own beliefs. Prayer is the main key to opening the hearts of the Kita Maninka to the gospel.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth long-term laborers to the Kita Maninka people in Mali.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to any mission agencies currently focusing on the Maninka.
Pray that God will give the Maninka believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
Pray for culturally appropriate radio broadcasts in the language of the Kita Maninka people.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Kita Maninka church for the glory of His name.


Scripture Prayers for the Maninka, Kita in Mali.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/13511/GV
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19611/ML
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2012/02/17
http://www.peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=48617
http://www.language-archives.org/language/mwk


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

Light on the Way

Source:  MovingWorks      Download

People Name General Maninka, Kita
People Name in Country Maninka, Kita
Natural Name Kita Maninka
Alternate Names Fulanke
Population this Country 620,000
Population all Countries 620,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 12
PeopleID3 19611
ROP3 Code 114951
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 Bamako capital district; Kayes region: Kita circle except far east; Koulikoro region: west of Bamako; Ségou region: Baroueli circle.   Source:  Ethnologue 2018
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 Bamako capital district; Kayes region: Kita circle except far east; Koulikoro region: west of Bamako; Ségou region: Baroueli circle..   Source:  Ethnologue 2018
Map of Maninka, Kita in Mali
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
21.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
76.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Maninkakan, Kita (620,000 speakers)
Language Code mwk   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Maninkakan, Kita (620,000 speakers)
Language Code mwk   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Maninkakan, Kita

Primary Language:  Maninkakan, Kita

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2017)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2022-2023)
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maninkakan, Kita Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source MovingWorks 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source MovingWorks
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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