Mali

The Malinke people trace their roots to the Mali Empire, which rose to power in the 1200’s under the rule of the “lion king,” Sundiata Keita. Sundiata unified a vast, wealthy kingdom in West Africa that extended from a heartland near where the Niger River crosses the Guinea/Mali border to the southern fringe of the Sahara.

Today, the Malinke are divided into numerous independent groups dominated by a hereditary nobility. They live in the savanna region in Guinea, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The total Malinke population in West Africa is about 4 million, with 2 million living in Guinea.

The traditional Malinke homeland is savanna with an annual rainfall of 59 inches. During the dry season, temperatures of 105-115 are common. In Upper Guinea and southeastern Mali, the savanna grassland comprises several species of tall grasses that reach heights of 5-10” during the rainy season. Deciduous trees grow in scattered clumps, but few have commercial value; baobabs and shea trees furnish fruit and oil.

The Malinke are mainly full-time subsistence farmers. They hoe their fields by hand and few use any type of fertilizer or irrigation. Rice and millet are important staple crops, along with peanuts and sorghum. Some of the men may have small part-time businesses to supplement their incomes. They may keep goats, sheep, bees, or poultry. In addition, they keep cattle for prestige, as bride-price payments, or for sacrifices.

Men usually do the heavy farm work, while the women do both domestic and farm chores. Women have the jobs of cooking, cleaning, tending to the young children, and gathering forest products. Men are usually responsible for hunting, fishing, or holding leadership positions, such as chief, village elders or imams (religious leaders).

The Malinke have many elaborate ceremonies associated with the different societies and initiation rites of their culture. Both boys and girls are circumcised and initiated into puberty. Men are initiated and advanced in their hierarchical society. Women also have their own secret society.

The Malinke live in large, walled-in villages. Within the villages, families live in separate, fenced-in compounds. Their homes are round, thatch-roof huts (or tin roof) made of mud or sun-dried brick. Few of the homes have electricity or running water. Some of the Malinke people 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.

Within the village, houses are grouped according to family ties, with each extended family occupying a compound. The villages are usually located near permanent water sources, and the adjacent land is used for cultivation. Each village has a chief who acts as a judge over the village. He handles disputes and helps the council of elders.

Most causes of illness among the Malinke people relate to their living conditions or to the lack of nearby medical facilities: malaria, acute respiratory infections, intestinal parasitic diseases, gastroenteritis, and malnutrition.

What are their beliefs?

In the 1860's, the Malinke were forced to convert to Islam. Since then, Islam has been blended with their traditional beliefs, which involved worshipping the spirits of the land. Today, it is not uncommon for someone to first pray in the village mosque, then sacrifice a chicken to the "village spirit." Many people 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?

Portions of scripture are available in the Maninka language; unfortunately, however, very few of the Malinke can read. One missions agency has targeted this people group, but has had little success. Perhaps the enormous need for teachers will create open doors for reaching them with the Gospel.