The Sankaran are a distinct people of central Guinea that are part of the larger Malinke family. Most are subsistence farmers and herders. They have settled along the life-giving Niger River that starts in Guinea and meanders all through western Africa. They primarily practice a form of folk Islam that mixes Islamic beliefs with traditional African religion. The majority of Sankaran are attempting to appease the spirits as they seek blessing in their daily struggle for provision. These attempts lead to tiring efforts to keep the appearance of outer piety of a works-based religious system.
The Sankaran are at an interesting crossroads, as they are part of the predominantly Islamic peoples of Guinea but are also near the geographical border where Christianity has taken root in Guinea.
“And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God.” (Acts 17:26-27a)
