Aoheng in Indonesia

The Aoheng have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Aoheng Penihing are a small indigenous tribe. The ancestors of the Aoheng may have come from other parts of Southeast Asia hundreds or perhaps thousands of years ago. The Aoheng language is endangered with less than 5000 native speakers. Some of the Aoheng men know enough of the Bahasa (Indonesian language) to communicate with outsiders.


Where Are they Located?

The Aoheng live in the north central Indonesian section of the island of Borneo near the Malaysian border. They live villages in the tropical rain forest near streams or rivers.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Penihing live semi-nomadic lives. When the soil of a particular area becomes exhausted, they move to another area. The slash and burn method of agriculture is destructive to plants and animals of the region. Penihing men also hunt and fish to add to their food supply. Women farm small plot of vegetables and gather forest products for food and for sale. Sweet potatoes, coconuts, and palm sago are their staple foods.

Most Aoheng live in villages governed by an elder or group of elders. The shaman is their main source of medical and spiritual help.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of the Aoheng practice folk religion or animism. They believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature such as trees, rocks, rivers, animals, and mountains. The Aoheng live in fear of offending the spirits and their ancestors. A village shaman intercedes between the Aoheng with the spirit world. The shaman and the Aoheng hope to appease the evil spirits through rituals, charms and offerings. A tiny group of the Aoheng are believers.


What Are Their Needs?

According to peoplegroups.org, no Scripture currently exists in the endangered language of the Aoheng, either in recorded or written form. The Aoheng would benefit by medical teams coming to treat their physical problems. Solar panels could give the Aoheng access to electricity to run small appliances. Most of all, the Aoheng need to hear and understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ who alone can free them from their fear of evil spirits and offer them an abundant life.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Aoheng Penihing people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.

Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Aoheng Penihing families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.

Pray for the spiritual lives of the Aoheng Penihing people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.

Pray for the lives and culture of the Aoheng Penihing people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.


Scripture Prayers for the Penihing, Aoheng in Indonesia.


References

https://www.peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=22594
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aoheng_language


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Penihing
People Name in Country Penihing, Aoheng
Natural Name Aoheng
Alternate Names Aoheng
Population this Country 4,900
Population all Countries 4,900
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14363
ROP3 Code 107975
ROP25 Code 306662
ROP25 Name Penihing
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan Timur Province, near Sarawak border, western end of province, upper reaches of Kapuas, Barito, and Mahakam rivers; small border areas, Kalimantan Tengah Province.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan Timur Province, near Sarawak border, western end of province, upper reaches of Kapuas, Barito, and Mahakam rivers; small border areas, Kalimantan Tengah Province..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Penihing, Aoheng in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
97.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Aoheng (4,900 speakers)
Language Code pni   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Aoheng (4,900 speakers)
Language Code pni   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Aoheng

Primary Language:  Aoheng

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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