Alternate Names: Bamanakan, Bambara
Dialects: Beledugu, Ganadugu, San, Segou, Sikasso, Somono, Standard Bambara, Wasulunkakan (Maninkakan, Eastern, Wassulu, Wassulunka, Wassulunke, Wasulu, Wasuu). Many local dialects. The main division is standard Bambara, influenced heavily by Eastern Maninkakan ,, and rural dialects. Bamanankan dialects are spoken in varying degrees by 80% of the Mali population. In Mali, Wasulunkakan is shared by both Bamanankan and Eastern Maninkakan, but in Guinea it is only a dialect of Eastern Maninkakan.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 4,000,000 in Mali (2012 V. Vydrin), increasing. 75,000 Ganadugu (Vanderaa 1991), 164,000 Wasulu (2009 census). Population total all countries: 4,072,040. L2 users: 10,000,000 in Mali (2012 V. Vydrine).
Language Use: Growing. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Bamako Sign Language [bog], Bankagooma [bxw], Duungooma [dux], Jowulu [jow], Kagoro [xkg], Kelengaxo Bozo [bzx], Konabéré [bbo], Koyra Chiini Songhay [khq], Koyraboro Senni Songhay [ses], Maasina Fulfulde [ffm], Mamara Sénoufo [myk], Soninke [snk], Supyire Sénoufo [spp], Syenara Sénoufo [shz], Tiéyaxo Bozo [boz].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 15%. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1961–1987.
Writing System: Latin, N’Ko
Nation of Origin: Mali
Other Comments: Wasulu are former Fulbe. Muslim, traditional religion.