People group profile · PG013564
The Red Bobo of Mali
The Red Bobo of Mali, numbering about 780,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Bwa (Bwaba) subgroup of Mali and Burkina Faso known by the Jula color-name Bobo-Oule or 'Red Bobo,' distinct from the unrelated Mande-speaking Bobo-Madare despite the shared exonym.
They are an indigenous people in the Gur people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Bomu.
Fast facts
- Country
- Mali
- Population
- 780,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Gur
- Primary language
- Bomu (bmq)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
- Location
- Mopti region: Djenne circle; Ségou region: San circle, San area on Bani river south bank; Sikasso region: enclave along Burkina Faso border
Where they live
Gospel status
The Red Bobo 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 Red Bobo
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
55% adherents
Primary language
Bomu · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Bomu
Gospel resources in Bomu
- Bible available, published 2013
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2012 Bible Society of Mali · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Red Bobo
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 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.
Bwa (Bomu) in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101820) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonuu Red Bobo | Burkina Faso | 95,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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