People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Bambara of United States


People Group Info

Total Population: 5,300

ROP3 Code: 100925
IMB Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan African
People Cluster: Malinke-Bambara
Language: Bambara - (bam)
Religion: Islam
Country of Origin: Mali

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
Copyright © GoWestAfrica

Majority Located Where

  New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY - 5,000

  Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC - 750

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Learn More

Brief Profile

The Bambara, or Bamana, are a Mandé people belonging to the West African people group cluster, primarily from Mali but also from Guinea, Burkina Faso and Senegal. They are considered to be amongst the largest Mandé ethnic groups, and are the dominant Mandé group in Mali, with 80% of the population speaking the Bambara language, regardless of ethnicity. In Mali, they occupy the central part of the country. They also predominantly live in rural village settlements and rely on subsistence farming as their most common means of livelihood, with hunting being a very important supplemental to their diet.

They are known for their cultural artistic crafts. In Mali, local markets are filled with local crafts people who trade their wares, potters, weavers, sculptors and leather workers all who undergo extensive training in their respective art, and in turn for a small profit supply the local communities with various utility objects required in everyday life.

The majoriity of Bambara adhere to Islam. However, their artistic forms add a mixture of traditional rituals, especially in honoring ancestors. In North American, they are found residing in major metro areas working in blue collar jobs.

Prayer Points

  • Ask God to give Christians a heart filled with love and compassion towards Bambara.
  • Ask the Lord to move Christians toward faith and confidence that God will hear them and will move powerfully in answer to their prayers of love and compassion (John 14:12-14) for Bambara people.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Any-3"
Any–3 provides biblical principles and practical steps that have equipped hundreds of Christians to witness confidently and effectively. Over the past decade, thousands of Muslims have been engaged with the gospel.

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

Loving Muslims Small Group Study
This Loving Muslims booklet is a two-week group study that takes a deeper look at Christ’s command to "love our neighbor."

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.

Overview of Islam
Overview of Islam and its sub-groupings. Developed by the North American Mission Board, SBC. Includes generalized witnessing tips.


Other Resources

Know God in 98 Languages
A CRU resource with 9 different witnessing models (e.g. 4 Spiritual Laws, etc.) in 98 languages.

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 1-2 of 2 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesNew YorkNew York-Newark-Jersey CityNY5,000
United StatesCharlotteCharlotte-Concord-GastoniaNC750