Bambara
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Bambara Mother figure, 15th-20th century |
The
Bambara (
Bamana in their own language, or sometimes
Banmana) are a
Mande people living in west
Africa, primarily in
Mali but also in
Guinea,
Burkina Faso and
Senegal. The name
Bambara means "infidel" or "barbarian" and is the name their enemies used to describe them.
Banmana in contrast, means "accept no master" and is the name they use to refer to themselves.
Before their
19th century conquest by the
Islamic
Toucouleur Empire, they were organised into the
Bambara Empire. They became the dominant cultural community in
Mali under
French colonialism and the
Bambara language has become the principal interethnic language and the main official language of the state alongside
French And the main people who speak French are the muslims. Half of the population of Mali are under the age of fifteen.
*
Bambara language*
Bambara Empire
