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People group profile · PG013553

The Khasonke of Mali

The Khasonke of Mali, numbering about 1,145,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic group indigenous to Mali's Kayes region, descendants of the Fula and Malinke Khasso kingdoms.

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 Xaasongaxango.

Pray for the KhasonkePrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Khasonke people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Khasonke

Fast facts

Country
Mali
Population
1,145,000
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Malinke
Primary language
Xaasongaxango (kao)
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
Location
Kayes region: Bafoulabé, Kayes, and Kéniéba circles

Where they live

Gospel status

The Khasonke 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 Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Khasonke

  • 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

92% adherents

Primary language

Xaasongaxango · Mande family

100% speak Xaasongaxango

Gospel resources in Xaasongaxango

  • Bible available, published 2008
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Khasonke

  1. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  2. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  3. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  4. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.

Download a prayer guide

Khasonke in other countries

The same people (ROP3 104921) is reported in 1 other country.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
KhasonkeSenegal16,000Engaged yet Unreached

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