Bolon in Mali


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Bolon live in western Burkina Faso in a land of savannah, small forests, and wet season marshes. The people spend their lives farming and managing small herds of cattle, goats, and sheep. Daily food includes millet, corn, sesame, and ground-nuts. Tobacco is grown as a cash crop. Villagers use wood and charcoal for fuel, and live in mud houses built around a central courtyard.

Extended families live close together, and the male head of the family has almost unlimited power over the other members. Each village is organized in a strict hierarchy according to sections, families, and age classes. Each clan interprets customs differently, and thus dances and other ceremonies vary greatly from one village to another.

The people as a whole are known for their complex masks, which are very distinct from, and respected and feared by neighboring groups. The Bolon coexist with neighbors out of necessity, but prohibit intermarriage with the Senoufo, and will not tolerate Senoufo living in Bolon areas. The Bolon have retained their heritage and character despite years of outside contact.

The majority of villagers follow the traditional religion, and there is only one known Christian. Many are Muslims. A low literacy rate may make audio-visual presentations of the Gospel more effective. Missionaries willing to live and work among the Bolon might encourage more receptivity to Christianity.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Bolon in Mali.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Bolon
People Name in Country Bolon
Alternate Names
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 50,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 10920
ROP3 Code 101573
ROP25 Code 301337
ROP25 Name Bolon
Country Mali
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 17  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Ségou region: Tominian circle (7 villages) and San circle (2 villages).   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Mali
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 17  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Ségou region: Tominian circle (7 villages) and San circle (2 villages)..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.10 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
7.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
90.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bolon (13,000 speakers)
Language Code bof   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bolon (13,000 speakers)
Language Code bof   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bolon

Primary Language:  Bolon

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2023  GoWestAfrica  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.