Deaf in Mali

Introduction / History

While many Deaf people have some degree of bilingualism, for most of them, it is impossible to learn a spoken language that they cannot hear fully. It is becoming more common around the world for Deaf people to learn more than one sign language.

In many situations, Deaf people are viewed as a disabled group, but a more accurate approach is to consider them as a distinct people group. They have their own unique languages and culture.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are many everyday experiences shared by Deaf people worldwide that contribute to Deaf culture. Since most Deaf people are born to hearing parents, and very few of those parents learn to sign, many Deaf people are isolated from their family and the broader community. Instead of acquiring language from their parents, many acquire language from other Deaf in the community or from a Deaf school. Oppression by the hearing community is also commonplace; decisions are made for the Deaf without Deaf input; laws are established forbidding Deaf people to marry; education may be provided only in the spoken language without interpreting. All of these shared experiences serve to unite Deaf people across cultural and political lines.

What Are Their Beliefs?

In Mali, most Deaf people are Muslim, like the majority. However, because of their special communication needs, they don’t understand Islam like hearing people.

What Are Their Needs?

Because of a lack of access to the spoken language, many Deaf people have a difficult time participating in church services and activities; relatively little Bible translation work has been done in sign languages and interpreted church services provide only the most basic of access to the Deaf community. Just like spoken languages, sign languages are not universal and vary widely from country to country and often even within a country.

For Deaf people to have full access to scripture, they need both Bible translation in their heart language and services in sign language. This means the Bible is out of reach. Limited access to education makes learning a spoken language well enough to read scripture exceedingly difficult, and only a small percentage of Deaf people have access to scripture in a sign language.

The global Deaf community needs missionaries, but the most effective way to reach a Deaf person is often through another Deaf person. Providing training for Deaf leaders and Deaf missionaries is crucial.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to prepare and send out Deaf missionaries to Mali.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of Deaf people in Mali to respond to the gospel.
Pray for many Deaf to be healed as a testimony of God’s power and goodness.

Text Source:   Joshua Project