Mandinka in Benin


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction

Mandinka villages are fairly autonomous and self-ruled, being led by a chief and group of elders. Mandinkas live in an oral society. Learning is traditionally done through stories, songs, and proverbs. Western education's impact has been minimal. However, more than half the adult population can read the local Arabic script. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries as many as a third of the Mandinka population were shipped to the Americas as slaves. A significant portion of the African-Americans in the United States are descended from the Mandinka people. The majority of the Mandinka were still animists at the beginning of the 18th century, but today most practice Islam mixed with traditional beliefs.


Ministry Obstacles

Workers should remember that the Mandinka are an oral society and oral means of communicating will likely be most effective.


Outreach Ideas

The full Bible and many other Gospel resources are available in the language of the Mandinka. Workers are needed to take these to the people.


Prayer Focus

Pray the few followers of Christ among the Mandinka will hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Pray they will be sent teachers to instruct them, especially using oral methods. Pray for an improved literacy rate, and for parents to see the importance of providing an education for their children.


Scripture Prayers for the Mandinka in Benin.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mandinka
People Name in Country Mandinka
Pronunciation man-DEENG-kah
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 2,319,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
Alternate Names Malinke; Mandinko; Sose
People ID 13491
ROP3 Code 106233
Country Benin
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Benin
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Islam
Religion Subdivision: Sunni
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.30 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
6.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
90.00 %
Non-Religious
3.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Mandinka (13,000 speakers)
Language Code mnk   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Mandinka (13,000 speakers)
Language Code mnk   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Mandinka
Photo Source Link Up Africa 
Map Source Bryan Nicholson / cartoMission  
Profile Source Joshua Project  
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Read more