The Bambara are a large subgroup of the Mande people (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke) of West Africa. They make up thirty-five percent of the population of Mali.  The name Bambara means "those who refuse to be ruled".  The Bambara people rank high in regard to the ethnic groups in Mali.  This is mainly because their language is spoken as a trade or common language by the people of Mali.

The majority of the Bambara are rural farmers.  Their staple crops are millet, sorghum, peanuts and rice in the lowlands.  They raise corn, tobacco, cassava and cotton as cash crops.  Drought and ecological damage has hurt the crop production for many years.  Most farmers try to raise enough food to feed their families each year, but usually fall short.

What are their lives like?

The Family is the most important aspect of a person's life.  Family relationships are central to the social and cultural life of the Bambara.  Women and female children are considered as property.  The family follows a patriarchal system and the men practice polygamy.  (Islam allows a man to have four wives.)  Marriages are arranged to help strengthen relationships in and between villages.  The extended family is very large and most of the family lives close together.   

Life revolves around the farm and the seven-month period of planting and harvest.  Though it is mandatory for all children under 15 years of age to attend school, rural children, if they are able to attend school, do not usually stay in school long because of the work demands on the farm.

What are their beliefs?

In the Bambara culture, tradition is more important than anything else.  The present day Bambara are predominately Muslim.  However, their ancestors practiced African Tribal Religions that combined spirit worship, fetish worship and sorcery. Many of those practices are still common today. 

The blending of ancient practices with Islam is referred to as Folk Islam.  Even attendance at a Koranic school does not eliminate the African Tribal Religion traditions from one's life.  From the time of circumcision, performed on both boys and girls, each child becomes part of a "ton" (fraternal organization and/or secret society). The "ton" is particularly significant in the formation of the male child into and throughout adulthood.  The "ton" solidifies the traditions in a person's life.

What are their needs?

Physical needs:

• access to adequate health care, particularly in the rural areas

• clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing

• training in nutrition and family care

• literacy training in Bambara

Spiritual needs:

• an understanding of the difference between faith and tradition

• prayer for a spiritual awakening among the Bambara

• evangelical Christians to live and work among the Bambara

• wisdom and boldness among the few Bambara believers

• an indigenous church growth movement among the Bambara