Manding languages that are spoken by various ethnic groups spread across Western Africa. Dioula is most closely related to the Bambara language (the most widely spoken language in Mali), in a manner similar to the relation between American English and British English. It is probably the most used language for trade in West Africa. The Dioula language and people are distinct from the Diola (Jola) people of Guinea-Bissau and Casamance. Notable Dyula people Al-Hajj Salim Suwari, a 13th-century karamogo (Islamic scholar). Alban Lafont Amadou Touré Amadou Ouattara, Footballer Christian Manfredini Cyrille Bayala Issouf Ouattara Kalpi Ouattara Mohamed Ouattara Modibo Sagnan Mohamed Touré Samory Touré (1830–1900) Kolo Touré, Ivorian footballer Yaya Touré, Ivorian footballer Seku Ouattara (Wattara) - a dioula warrior. Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) since 2010. Vincent Angban Yacouba Songné Mohamed Sylla Notes References Launey, Robert. "Beyond the Stream: Islam & Society in a West African Town", University of California Press, Berkeley, 1992. Launay, Robert. "Electronic Media & Islam Among the Dyula of Northern Cote de'Ivoire". Journal Article; Africa, Vol. 67, 1997. Samwini, Nathan. "Muslim Resurgence in Ghana Since 1950", Journal of Christian-Muslim Relations, Vol. 7. LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster Ivor Wilks, "The Juula & the Expansion of Islam into the Forest", in N. Levtzion and R.L. Pouwels (eds.), The History of Islam in Africa, Athens: Ohio University Press, 2000 Nehemia Levtzion and J.O. Voll (eds.), "Eighteenth Century Renewal & Reform in Islam", Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1987 Andrea Brigaglia, Historical Context: Notes on the Arabic Literary Tradition of West Africa. Northwestern University Elizabeth A. Isichei, "A History of African Societies to 1870" Moshe Terdman, Project for the Research of Islamist Movements (PRISM): Islam in Africa Newsletter'', Vol. 2 No. 3 Herzliya, Israel. 2007 Islam in Medieval Sudan, islamawareness.net Ethnic groups in Ivory Coast Ethnic groups in Ghana Ethnic groups in Guinea Ethnic groups in Mali Ethnic groups in Senegal Ethnic groups in Burkina Faso Mandé people West African people