People group profile · PG013542
The Dafin of Mali
The Dafin of Mali, numbering about 66,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Manding people, also called Marka, descended from Soninke migrants of the Wagadu Empire who settled the middle Niger in the 11th-13th centuries, arriving in Mali-Burkina Faso mainly in the 1600s, later trading across the Sahara under Bambara rule.
They are an indigenous people in the Malinke people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Marka.
Fast facts
- Country
- Mali
- Population
- 66,500
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Malinke
- Primary language
- Marka (rkm)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Dafin are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Dafin
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
70% adherents
Primary language
Marka · Mande family
100% speak Marka
Gospel resources in Marka
- Bible available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Dafin
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Marka in other countries
The same people (ROP3 106346) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marka | Burkina Faso | 510,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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