People group profile · PG013575
The Wassalu of Mali
The Wassalu of Mali, numbering about 270,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Bambara-speaking community of the Wassoulou cultural region where Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea meet, formed through centuries of Fulani migrants from the Fouta Djallon blending into the indigenous Mande population.
They are an indigenous people in the Malinke-Bambara people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Islam, and they primarily speak Bambara.
Fast facts
- Country
- Mali
- Population
- 270,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Malinke-Bambara
- Primary language
- Bambara (bam)
- Primary religion
- Folk 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
- Bamako, Kayes, Koulikoro, and Ségou regions; Sikasso region: north, middle Niger river watershed
Where they live
Gospel status
The Wassalu 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 Wassalu
- 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
Folk Islam · Islam
89% adherents
Primary language
Bambara · Mande family
100% speak Bambara
Gospel resources in Bambara
- Bible available, published 1996
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Alliance Biblique au Mali 1987 · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Wassalu
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
Wasulu in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110714) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wassalu | Guinea | 93,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Wassulu | Cote d’Ivoire | 19,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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