Omani Arab in Somalia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Omani Arabs represent a small percentage of Somalia's population. They are set apart from other Somalians by their use of the Arabic language and by their culture.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Omani Arabs in the south and northwest regions of Somalia usually live in rural farm villages. They grow bananas, citrus fruit, sugar cane, corn, cotton, and sorghum. A typical village consists of a cluster of homes made of stones or sun-dried mud. Some live in towns where they are employed as shopkeepers. The Omani often gather in the marketplaces to buy and sell goods and also to socialize. They love to tell stories, recite poems or verses from the Koran, and visit with their friends.
Many of the Omani are nomadic- or semi-nomadic herdsmen. They travel from place to place with their herds of camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. They live in small, collapsible huts made of arched wooden braces covered with skins and grass mats.
The Omani eat mainly dairy products, camel and goat meat, rice and other grains, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Tea and coffee are their favorite beverages. Islamic law forbids them to eat pork or to drink alcohol. Most of the Omani wear traditional Arab clothes. Men wear white robes, turbans, and knives in brightly colored sashes. The women wear long, black dresses over colorful inner clothes. Some of them also wear black masks to cover their faces.
Omani Arabs live in extended family units. Their society is patriarchal, or male-dominated. The men do not abuse this authority because they believe that their families should obey them out of respect, rather than fear. There are clearly defined roles for both sexes. Even the children are given gender-specific duties. The men work outside in the fields while women work in the homes. Men and women often eat separately and never pray together. While men worship at mosques, women attend ceremonies conducted at home by female religious leaders. Marriages are generally pre-arranged by the parents. Children are a considered the family's greatest asset because they provide the parents with additional laborers and social security.


Omani Arabs were among the first people in the middle east to accept Islam.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Omanis were among the first to embrace Islam. They are overwhelmingly Ibadi Muslims, a branch that is similar to Sunni Islam. The Ibadis favor the selection of their imams through consensus not heritage. In that way they differ from the dominant Sunni sector of Islam. Some would describe the Ibadi sector of Islam as moderately conservative. As far as we know there are almost no followers of Christ among the Omani Arabs and no fellowships of believers.


What Are Their Needs?

Omani Arabs need the chance to flourish economically so they don't have to migrate to other countries. They also need the chance to hear and respond to the claims of Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life He offers those who follow Him.


Prayer Points

Pray for open hearts and minds to the ways of Jesus Christ among the Gulf speaking Arabs in Oman.
Pray for the Lord to raise up persons of peace to welcome Christ's ambassadors to Omani families.
Pray for the Lord to send His appointed workers to take Christ to this highly unreached people group.
Pray that there will be an unstoppable movement to Christ among every people group in Somalia.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Omani in Somalia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arab, Omani
People Name in Country Arab, Omani
Natural Name Omani Arab
Pronunciation oh-MAH-nee AE-rub
Alternate Names Arabic, Omani Spoken; Omani Arab
Population this Country 102,000
Population all Countries 2,823,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 10378
ROP3 Code 100431
ROP25 Code 300414
ROP25 Name Arab, Omani
Country Somalia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 2  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Somalia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 2  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.50 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Omani (102,000 speakers)
Language Code acx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Omani (102,000 speakers)
Language Code acx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Omani

Primary Language:  Arabic, Omani

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Arabic Bible Online Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source CharlesFred - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source Ethnic Peoples of Somalia  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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