Wild Fruits Traditionally Gathered by the Malinke Ethnic Group in the Edge of Niokolo Koba Park (Senegal)

A study of Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, identified 45 wild fruit species critical to the Malinke ethnic group's food security during lean agricultural periods. These fruits, belonging to 28 botanical families, are most abundant between the end of the hot dry season and mid-rainy season—when crops are depleted but not yet replenished. The research, conducted through semi-structured interviews in Tomboronkoto village, revealed that over half of these species are trees, with Saba senegalensis, Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Tamarindus indica, and Vitellaria paradoxa being the most versatile in use (fresh or cooked). The findings highlight the ecological and cultural importance of wild fruits in mitigating food insecurity, particularly during seasonal shortages.

Gueye, M., Ayessou, N. C., Koma, S., Diop, S., Elie Akpo, L., & Samb, P. I. (2014). Wild Fruits Traditionally Gathered by the Malinke Ethnic Group in the Edge of Niokolo Koba Park (Senegal). American Journal of Plant Sciences, 05(09), 1306–1317. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2014.59144