MgSrAl₁₀O₁₇:Mn²⁺ and BaAl₂O₄:Mn⁴⁺ luminescent materials were prepared by urea combustion route. Powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area measurements were used to characterize the as-prepared combustion products, while the optical properties were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Photoluminescence studies of MgSrAl₁₀O₁₇:Mn²⁺ showed green emission from Mn²⁺ ions. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) investigations also indicated the presence of Mn²⁺ ions in the prepared material, while photoluminescence studies of BaAl₂O₄:Mn⁴⁺ suggest that doped-Mn ions exist predominantly in tetravalent oxidation state in this material.