The Susu or Soussou people are a Mande-speaking ethnic group living primarily in Guinea and northwestern Sierra Leone, particularly in Kambia District. Smaller communities are also found in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. They speak the Susu language, Sosoxui, which is closely related to the Yalunka language. The language has historically served as a regional trade language, especially around Conakry. The Susu are believed to have Soninke roots and connections to the medieval Sosso Empire, tracing their origins to early Mande populations in the western Sahel. They are said to have originally been a section of the Soninke people that migrated out of Wagadou and were initially a clan of blacksmiths who displayed their clear intentions to object converting to Islam. Over time, a significant number of Sosso groups moved westward, settling in the Fouta Djallon highlands and eventually along the Atlantic coast.