The Brown-backed Mannikin or Brown-backed Munia Lonchura nigriceps is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa: Angola, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It is found in moist savanna and subtropical/ tropical lowland moist forest habitat. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.