Mali
Waiting for the first voice
تا مرد سخن نگفته باشد / عیب و هنرش نهفته باشد
Until a man has spoken, his faults and his gifts both stay hidden.
No advice from here yet. Know an elder from this country? Your recording could be the first: 2–3 minutes on a phone.
Did you know
In Timbuktu's golden age, the 15th and 16th centuries, wealthy families built libraries of works on mathematics, medicine and astronomy. (source)
Elders in numbers
- of people are 65 or older
- 2.4%
- people aged 65 or older
- 595.5K
- will be 65 or older in 2050
- 3.5%
- is how long people live after 60, on average
- 17.1 years
- of people 65+ live alone
- 0.5%
- women 0.5%, men 0.5%
- of people 65+ live in collective quarters: care homes, hospitals, hostels and the like
- 0%
Sources: World Bank, 2025; World Bank projection for 2050; WHO, 2023; UN, 2024; UN, 1998 census
Languages
76 languages, 22 of them endangered
- Ampari DogonDefinitely endangered
- Bamako Sign LanguageDefinitely endangered
- BangimeDefinitely endangered
- BankaDefinitely endangered
- Bankan Tey DogonDefinitely endangered
- Ben Tey DogonDefinitely endangered
- Budu DogonDefinitely endangered
- Duleri DogonDefinitely endangered
- KalamséDefinitely endangered
- Nanga DogonDefinitely endangered
- PanaDefinitely endangered
- SamweDefinitely endangered
Show all 76
- Tebul Sign LanguageDefinitely endangered
- Tondi Songway KiiniDefinitely endangered
- Yanda DogonDefinitely endangered
- Ana DogonVulnerable
- Bondum DogonVulnerable
- Dogul DogonVulnerable
- KagoroVulnerable
- Mombo DogonVulnerable
- TamahaqVulnerable
- Tebul DogonVulnerable
- Bambara
- Bomu
- Bwamu
- Cebaara
- Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde
- Dioula
- Donno So Dogon
- Duungooma
- Eastern Maninkakan
- Hainyaxo Bozo
- Hassaniya Arabic
- Humburi Senni
- Jahanka
- Jamsai Dogon
- Jenaama Bozo
- Jowulu
- Kassonke
- Kisamo-Matya
- Kita Maninkakan
- Koromfe
- Koyra Chiini
- Koyraboro Senni
- Maasina Fulfulde
- Marka
- Minyanka
- Mooré
- Nanerigé
- Northern Bobo Madaré
- Penange Dogon
- Pulaar
- Pular
- Senara
- Siamou
- Soninke
- Sucite
- Supyire
- Tadaksahak
- Tahoua
- Tamasheq
- Tene Kan Dogon
- Tiemacewe Bozo
- Tiéyaxo Bozo
- Tommo So Dogon
- Tomo Kan Dogon
- Toro So Dogon
- Toro-tegu Dogon
- Western Maninkakan
- Western Niger Fulfulde
- Wojenaka
- Wolof
- Yalunka
- Zarma
- Berbey Sign Language
- Douentza Sign Language
Languages and their status: Glottolog v5.3, CC BY 4.0. Names: Wikidata.
UNESCO intangible heritage
- Cultural practices and expressions linked to Balafon and Kolintang in Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Indonesia2024
- Cultural practices and expressions linked to the 'M’Bolon', a traditional musical percussion instrument2021
- Coming forth of the masks and puppets in Markala2014
- Practices and knowledge linked to the Imzad of the Tuareg communities of Algeria, Mali and Niger2013
- Secret society of the Kôrêdugaw, the rite of wisdom in Mali2011
- Septennial re-roofing ceremony of the Kamablon, sacred house of Kangaba2009
- Manden Charter, proclaimed in Kurukan Fuga2009
- Sanké mon, collective fishing rite of the Sanké2009
Show all 9
List and years: ich.unesco.org
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