The Bambara language is a Mande language spoken primarily in Mali, where it serves as a lingua franca among various ethnic groups. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the country, with millions of speakers. Bambara is part of the larger Niger-Congo language family and has a rich oral tradition, including proverbs, stories, and songs. Bambara uses a syllabic writing system called N'Ko, which was developed in the 1940s to promote literacy among speakers. The language has also been influenced by French, the official language of Mali, due to historical colonization. Today, Bambara is taught in schools and used in media, contributing to its preservation and growth.