The Bariba people, also known as Baatonu (plural Baatombu),  are the   cofounders of the Borgu kingdom of what is now northeast Benin and west-central Nigeria. The language they speak is Baatonum. In Nigeria, they are found spread between western Kwara State and the Borgu section of Niger State.

There are about 1.5 million Bariba globally, with about 70% of them in Benin, where they are the fourth largest ethnic group. They are concentrated primarily in the north-east of the country, especially around the city of Nikki, which is considered the traditional Bariba capital. The Bariba can also be found in Burkina Faso and Togo.

One of their leading practices is horse riding, which is a practice that has been enjoyed from generation to generation. Agriculture is the dominant occupation for the Bariba. They grow corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts and some poultry and livestock Religion plays an important role in Bariba tribes and they are primarily Islamic. However a number of Bariba communities have their own indigenous beliefs.

Raphasent focused her medical mission work on the Bariba located in Kwara State Nigeria.

• Bariba in Kwara State Nigeria: Population: 185,000
• Religion:
  • Islam 79%
  • Christianity (Evangelical 3%) 18%
  • Ethnic Religions: 3%
• Gospel progress scale: 4 (partially reached)

Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica, wilkipedia, joshuaproject.org,  peoplegroups.org