Population: 12,291,529 Capital: Bamako Size: 478,766 sq. mi. Ethnic Groups: Mande-50%, Peul-17%, Voltaic-12%, Tuareg & Moor-10%, Songhai-6% Languages: French, Bambara, Fulbe, and Songhai. Chief Religion: Muslim-87%, Indigenous beliefs-11%, Christian-2%

Bambara - The Bambara are among the most powerful and influential groups in Mali. There are 3,365,000 Bambara in Mali, while there are a total of 3,831,000 in other countries. During the 1700’s there were two Bambara kingdoms: Segu and Karta. In the 1800’s, militant Muslim groups overthrew these kingdoms, leaving only a few anti-Muslim Bambara warlords to resist their occupation. This lasted forty years, until the arrival of the French. Only 3% of the Bambara had converted to Islam by 1912. However today there 70% of them are now Muslim. Many of them still follow their traditional beliefs such as ancestor worship (the practice of praying to deceased ancestors for guidance). They 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.

There have been some progress made in converting some to Christianity, however much prayer is necessary in tearing down the remaining strongholds that are keeping them from knowing the truth.

Fulani, Macina - The Fula Kita (also known as the Fula Maasina or Fulani Macina) are located predominantly in the Maasina region of Mali. This people group makes up a population of 2,118,000 in Mali. They are 95% Muslim. As such, they follow the teachings of the Koran. They believe, as do most Muslims, that Allah is the only god and that Mohammed is his prophet. Efforsts to evangelize them have resulted in only a very small number of believers.

They live mainly from farming and herding, hunting, fishing, trading and raising crops of millet, rice, and peanuts. Herding is mostly a male activity, but women milk and care for the cattle. Women also tend to small livestock and poultry, cultivate gardens and sell milk and cheese at the local markets. Daughters remain with their mothers until they marry, however as soon as a son reaches puberty, he leaves the family compound and lives alone in a nearby compound usually with some cattle. The new compound will become the home of the son and his future wife. Marriages are usually arranged by the man’s father. They commonly practice polygamy with a limit of four wives. There is one chief wife, who has authority over the others.