Marka people

The Marka originated from Soninke people from Wagadu Empire who migrated to the middle Niger between the 11th and 13th centuries.

[1]: 171 Relatively geographically constrained compared to other trading communities such as the Jakhanke and Dyula people, they founded Nyamina and Sansanding during this early period, and Barouéli and Banamba in the 19th century.

Muslim merchant communities at the time of the Bambara Empire, the Maraka largely controlled the desert-side trade between the Sahel and nomadic Berbers and Moors of the Sahara.

Their economy was based on slave plantation agriculture growing food and cotton to be traded.

Today there are only around 25,000 Marka speakers, and they are largely integrated amongst their Soninke and Bambara neighbors.