About the People
Approximately 3.5 million strong, the Malinke have spread across much of West Africa. There are populations of Malinke in Guinea, Senegal, and other countries, including Mali. Almost 100 percent of the Malinke people are of the Muslim faith. Kangaba, Mali, is a very significant place to the Malinke people. In the 1200s, a great king known as Sundiata Keita (the original Lion King) raised the Malian empire to greatness. Sundiata Keita made Kangaba his capital and built a sacred hut there that still stands today. Kangaba was known as the seat of the Malian empire’s spiritual power.
Imagine living your life in fear of the evil eye and other spiritual forces. Imagine living in a country twice the size of Texas, but with only three Seventh-Day Adventist churches. Imagine living your whole life in such spiritual darkness that you never hear the name of Jesus spoken. Such is the lot of the Malinke of Mali.
About the Project
Since 1996, there has been an Adventist Frontier Mission project located in Kangaba, Mali. Phillip and Naomi Polley, with their children, spent 12 years nurturing relationships among the Malinke. Homer and Debbie Curry, with their family, also spent some years in Kangaba. The efforts of these families bore fruit. For a time, there was a small company of believers worshiping every Sabbath in Kangaba. Although both families returned to the States in 2007, they left behind many valuable resources, including a complete set of Bible studies produced in Bambara, the local language, and audio Bible stories recorded in Bambara and French. Neil and Holly Lovitt also served on this project from 2008-2016. Now the Tooray family, just finishing up their training, will continue the work in Kangaba.
People-Group Facts
- Population: 3.5 million
- Language: Malinke
- Religion: Islam
We thanked God for giving us such an incredible resource.
By:
Holly Lovitt
March 01 2015, 7:53 am | Comments 0
God uses all of our efforts, no matter how feeble they may seem to us.
By:
Holly Lovitt
January 01 2015, 10:32 am | Comments 0
Satan works his hardest to divert those who seem to have the greatest ability to work for God.
By:
Holly Lovitt
December 01 2014, 9:39 am | Comments 0
“Well, why would I want to become a Christian if I won’t get anything?”
By:
Holly Lovitt
October 01 2014, 9:31 am | Comments 0
I prayed silently as I scanned dusty blocks
of shops and supermarkets, trying
to read every sign in French.
By:
Holly Lovitt
August 01 2014, 1:45 pm | Comments 0
“I need to buy bread for tomorrow and check if there is any good fruit at the market. Is there anything else?” Neil asked me.
By:
Holly Lovitt
June 01 2014, 10:52 am | Comments 0
When we are in the States on furlough and mention to people that we live in Africa, their eyes usually get big, and they say something like, “Wow, Africa! Do you get to see lions, giraffes, and elephants all the time?”
By:
Holly Lovitt
May 01 2014, 12:18 pm | Comments 0
One evening a month or so ago, Neil went out to our chicken shed to shut the door.
By:
Holly Lovitt
April 01 2014, 10:27 am | Comments 0