The Bariba people, self designation Baatonu (plural Baatombu), are the principal inhabitants of Borgou Department, Benin, and cofounders of the Borgu kingdom of what is now northeast Benin and northwest Nigeria.

In Nigeria, they are found in Western Kwara State.

There are perhaps a million Bariba, seventy percent of them in Benin, where they are the fourth largest ethnic group in Benin and comprise approximately one eleventh of the population (nine point two percent).

The Bariba are concentrated primarily in the northeast of the country, especially around the city of Nikki, which is considered the Bariba capital.

They originally migrate  from Kwara state Nigeria and are renowned horsemen.

One of their noted festivals is the annual Gani festival which horsermanship is very much a part of and is ingrained in their culture.