People group profile · PG047171
The Samoya of Mali
The Samoya of Mali, numbering about 4,400 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Gur people, also called Kalemse, arriving around the 15th century as a sub-ethnic Mandinka branch, settled mainly in Burkina Faso's driest northwest with communities in Mali, farming millet where rainfall is under 700 millimeters a year.
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 Kalamsé.

Fast facts
- Country
- Mali
- Population
- 4,400
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Gur
- Primary language
- Kalamsé (knz)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and 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 Samoya are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Samoya
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Animism · Ethnoreligion
60% adherents
Primary language
Kalamsé · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Kalamsé
Gospel resources in Kalamsé
- Bible available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Samoya
- 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.
- 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.
Samo in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108577) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalenga | Burkina Faso | 30,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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