The Jahanka have been called the Islamic holy men (clerics) of West Africa. These holy men are often are responsible for running Islamic schools in local villages. Furthermore, services such as intercession, divination, dream inducing prayers, and the making of spiritual amulets are sought out from the Jahanka holy men by Muslims throughout the area. It is not unheard of for a Muslim to travel 14 hours to seek clerical services from a Jahanka.

However, not all Jahanka are Islamic clerics. Many of them make their living in farming and the raising of animals. Often the clerics also maintain farms which are cultivated by young boys who receive education in the Qur’an in exchange for their labor. The Jahanka pride themselves on their religious heritage. They have established their villages around key Islamic holy men and they have moved when the cleric moved or they found a new, more spiritual one to follow. Since the banning of slavery a century ago, many Jahanka have had to turn to other forms of work to make up for the income lost from slave labor. Many Jahanka have moved to larger cities and even other countries to pursue income to support their family. However, by African standards, the Jahanka are very well off financially.

The Jahanka are very well respected and influential throughout all West Africa. While Jahanka can be found serving as Islamic clerics in virtually all West African countries, as well as a couple of countries in Europe, the majority reside in small villages and towns throughout Senegal, The Gambia and Guinea. It is estimated there are somewhere between 65,000 and 100,000 Jahanka. The number of known believers among the Jahanka can be counted on one hand (with fingers to spare) and there currently exists no scripture translated in their language.

Throughout their history, the Jahanka have chosen to seek a life of piety. This pursuit of Islamic holiness has often led them to establish themselves in remote areas, away from secular influences. The Jahanka have also chosen to avoid political involvement and maintain neutrality by refusing to take up arms in matters of politics or jihadic conversions to Islam. Because of this passivity, throughout history the Jahanka have often been forced to migrate and adapt, both culturally and linguistically, to their new environment. While having their own language, Jahango, it is very similar to the language of those they live around.