Ethnos

Soninke

The Soninke live along the Senegal River in western Mali in the region of Kayes, as well as farther east in the regions of Yelimane, Nioro and Nara. There are about 1,750,000 overall with approximately 1,000,000 in Mali.

The Soninke are principally farmers who raise millet/sorghum (their staple crop), rice, corn, peanuts, and okra. They also raise cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and chickens. Some fishing and hunting is done as well. In the last century, there were many Soninke merchants. Trading occurs from local markets and neighboring regions, to other countries and continents around the world.

Decreased rainfall and deforestation have made it difficult to meet their needs by trade and agriculture alone. As a result, the Soninke have adopted a pattern of labor migration, one of the highest among Africans. A large portion of the male population works away from home. Visits back home are every two to four years until retirement age. This allows the Soninke to continue living in their increasingly inhospitable homeland. ***