The Kelenga Bozo of Mali

The Kelenga Bozo of Mali, numbering approximately 51,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a linguistic subgroup of the Bozo, a Mande ethnic group located predominantly along the Niger River in Mali and can also be known as Kelengaxo, Hanyaxo, Boso, Xan, Kélingua, Kélinga, Hainyaxo Bozo, Xanyaxo, Hain. They are an Indigenous people, in the Soninke people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African affinity bloc. Their primary religion is Islam - Folk. They primarily speak Bozo, Kelengaxo.

Kelenga Bozo in Mali photo
Photo courtesy of Joshua Project. Photo Source: Copyrighted ©️ 2025 GoWestAfrica Used with permission

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-saharan Africa Peoples
Country: Mali
People Cluster: Soninke
Primary Language(s): Bozo, Kelengaxo (bzx)
Primary Religion(s): Islam - Folk
Population: 51,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Unengaged and Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Active CP Activity
People Group ID: PG050170

Pray for the Kelenga Bozo of Mali

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Islam - Folk
Religious Affiliation: Islam

%
Islam - Folk Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Bozo, Kelengaxo
Language Family: Niger-Congo

%
Bozo, Kelengaxo Speakers

Media Resources in Bozo, Kelengaxo:

Films:

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Bible Resources in Bozo, Kelengaxo:

Or check out the Bozo, Kelengaxo bible resources at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

Next steps for the Kelenga Bozo

The Kelenga Bozo are Unengaged and Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations among which there are no known efforts focused on establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Begin signifcant prayer and fasting for this group
Send cross-cultural teams to discover and research this people group
Begin gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group

Next steps for the Kelenga Bozo

The Kelenga Bozo are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Next steps for the Kelenga Bozo

The Kelenga Bozo are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Kelenga Bozo of Mali

"...And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
readLuke 8:8

Pray that the seeds of truth will take root in the hearts of those who are far from Jesus and that He will lead them from darkness to light.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
readPsalm 19:1-2

Pray that the lost will see the glory of God revealed in the heavens, that they will hear the good news, and that their hearts will be softened to respond to God’s call, turning to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.
readJohn 17:17

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will experience freedom from sin as God sanctifies them in the truth of His Word.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
read1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Pray that God will raise up believers to go to the lost and faithfully proclaim the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection so that all may have an opportunity to access and believe.

Bozo, Hain (ROP3 - 103639) reported in the following countries:

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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