People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Maninka of United States


People Group Info

Total Population: 5,300

ROP3 Code: 106266
IMB Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan African
People Cluster: Malinke
Language: Eastern Maninkakan - (emk)
Religion: Islam
Country of Origin: Guinea

Photo courtesy of International Mission Board

Majority Located Where

  New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY - 5,000

  Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC - 750

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

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Brief Profile

The Maninka, also known as the Malinké or Mandingo, are a West African people who mainly originated from mostly rural areas in Guinea and Mali, but also from Senegal, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. They trace their roots back to the famous Mali empire king, Sundiata Keita. Due to poor economic conditions in their home countries, many Maninka have made their way to America in search of a better life.

Most Maninka came to the United States for economic gain, and many left their families behind in Africa. Only a small portion of Maninka are in the United States legally, which means a great majority work long hours at difficult service jobs. Nevertheless, many Maninka manage to regularly send back money to wives, children, parents, friends, and other family members. As a result, their life is defined by work. This difficult time in life is seen as a necessary evil in order to return to their home country to live in prosperity.

They are steeped in Islam and African traditional religion.

Prayer Points

  • Ask God to visit the Maninka people in dreams and visions, preparing them to receive the Gospel message.
  • Ask God to call out believers willing to use oral Bible storying methods to share the Gospel with the Maninka.
  • Maninka strive to appease God through good works. Pray they would believe in the Truth and accept the grace of God’s salvation gift.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Any-3"
Any–3 provides biblical principles and practical steps that have equipped hundreds of Christians to witness confidently and effectively. Over the past decade, thousands of Muslims have been engaged with the gospel.

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

Loving Muslims Small Group Study
This Loving Muslims booklet is a two-week group study that takes a deeper look at Christ’s command to "love our neighbor."

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.

Overview of Islam
Overview of Islam and its sub-groupings. Developed by the North American Mission Board, SBC. Includes generalized witnessing tips.


Other Resources

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 1-2 of 2 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesCharlotteCharlotte-Concord-GastoniaNC750
United StatesNew YorkNew York-Newark-Jersey CityNY5,000