AbstractWe investigate the electronic structure of BaMnBi₂ and BaZnBi₂ using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Although they share similar structural properties, we show that their electronic structure exhibit dramatic differences. A strong anisotropic Dirac dispersion is revealed in BaMnBi₂ with a decreased asymmetry factor compared with other members of AMnBi₂ (A = alkali earth or rare earth elements) family. In addition to the Dirac cones, multiple bands crossing the Fermi energy give rise to a complex Fermi surface topology for BaZnBi₂. We further show that the strength of hybridization between Bi-p and Mn-d/Zn-s states is the main driver of the differences in electronic structure for these two related compounds.