Soninke in Guinea-Bissau


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Soninke are a major people spread across at least seven countries in West Africa.

Historically, the Soninke have been traveling traders. They established one of the first Soninke settlements in Ghana around A.D. 750. Because of persecution by the Berbers, the Soninke dispersed into small groups throughout at least seven West African nations. The three main sub-groups of the Soninke are the Marka, Nono, and Azer. Often, these tribes are further broken into smaller clans that specialize in various crafts. Four of the most important Soninke tribes are the Sisse, Drame, Sylla, and Kante. Some of these groups eventually intermixed with the local Wolof, Serer, and Malinke tribes.


What Are Their Lives Like?

With the increasing difficulty of farming resulting from the desertification of their land, the Soninke have increasingly turned to travel and work outside of their area. They have maintained an above average standard of living and are relatively rich. Despite being so well traveled, the Soninke have held fast to their traditional ways.

Most Soninke live in compact villages surrounded by their farm and grazing lands. Houses line both sides of the main street, and a mosque is typically at the village square.

Soninke marriages require the payment of a bride-price. In contrast to most neighboring tribes, the bride-price is given to the bride rather than her parents. It becomes part of her dowry. They forbid pre-marital sexual relations but accept polygamy (having over one wife), with each man being limited to four wives by Islamic law. In the past, fathers passed inheritances to their sons. Muslim rules govern the dispersion of property: one-eighth goes to the widow, while equal shares go to each son and half shares go to each daughter. Soninke parents encourage their sons to pursue a secondary and university education while the daughters receive, at best, a primary education.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Soninke people in Guinea-Bissau are Sunni Muslims heavily influenced by folk religion, a belief in the power of natural spirits. The Soninke try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. Sunnis believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam, they will attain heaven when they die. However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Muslims must not drink alcohol, eat pork, gamble, steal, deceive, slander, or make idols.

The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. Friday is the day of rest, with Soninke attending their local mosque for prayer.


What Are Their Needs?

As farming becomes more difficult in the ever-extending desert, the Soninke are finding additional sources of income to replace farming. Health care is a great need. Spiritually, there are very few Soninke people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ no matter where they live.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to provide the Soninke people a miraculously large harvest as a testimony of his power and mercy.
Pray for abundant rain in their West African homeland.
Pray for Holy Spirit driven workers to go to the Soninke people in Guinea-Bissau.
Pray for a movement to Christ that will bless the Soninke people's families, crops and spiritual lives.
Pray for spiritual openness to Christ among the Soninke people in Guinea-Bissau.


Scripture Prayers for the Soninke in Guinea-Bissau.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Soninke
People Name in Country Soninke
Pronunciation suh-NING-kay
Alternate Names Azer; Sarakole; Sarawulé; Serahuli; Serer; Toubakai
Population this Country 6,300
Population all Countries 3,107,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14996
ROP3 Code 109413
ROP25 Code 307660
ROP25 Name Soninke
Country Guinea-Bissau
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Following 21 towns and villages: Bafata, Bajokunda, Berikunda, Bissau, Bissora, Camalija-Sori, Farim, Gabu, Kamonka, Kulikunda, Munjoro, Paunca, Pirada, Sari Sambi, Sincha Demba, Sincha Karimu, Sincha Samba, Sincha Sori, Sincha Ussumane, Sonaco, Teyibata. Many of these villages are in the Gabu region of northeastern Guinea-Bissau, near the Senegalese border, but are not limited to the Pirada sector. Others are towns scattered throughout Guinea-Bissau.   Source:  Field worker
Country Guinea-Bissau
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Following 21 towns and villages: Bafata, Bajokunda, Berikunda, Bissau, Bissora, Camalija-Sori, Farim, Gabu, Kamonka, Kulikunda, Munjoro, Paunca, Pirada, Sari Sambi, Sincha Demba, Sincha Karimu, Sincha Samba, Sincha Sori, Sincha Ussumane, Sonaco, Teyibata. Many of these villages are in the Gabu region of northeastern Guinea-Bissau, near the Senegalese border, but are not limited to the Pirada sector. Others are towns scattered throughout Guinea-Bissau..   Source:  Field worker

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.30 %)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.50 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Soninke
Language Code snk   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Serer-Sine
Primary Language Soninke
Language Code snk   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Serer-Sine
People Groups Speaking Soninke

Primary Language:  Soninke

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2001-2018)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Soninke Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Link Up Africa 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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