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Indiana University Bloomington

Bamana/Bamanankan

Bamana, also known as Bamanankan, is part of the Mande language family. Bamana is one of the most widely spoken languages in West Africa and is used by more than 26 million people, primarily in Mali, where it can be heard on the radio, in government offices, and in schools.  It is also spoken by significant segments of the population in Burkina Faso and northern Côte-d’Ivoire, where it is known as Juula, as well as in Guinea-Conakry and Gambia, where it is called Malinké or Maninka. Additional speakers of Bamana live in Senegal.

Current courses: Bamana

Course Fall Spring
Elementary B101/B501 B102/B502
Intermediate B201/B601 B202/B602
Advanced B301/B701 B302/B702

African Languages Minor Requirements: Bamanankan Track

5 language courses:

  • Elementary level (B101; B102)
  • Intermediate level (B201; B202)
  • Advanced level (B301)

1 linguistics course:

  • Introduction to African Linguistics (L480), or
  • Languages in Africa (L481)

External Links