Avau in Papua New Guinea

The Avau have only been reported in Papua New Guinea
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Avau people live on the southern coast and islands of West New Britain. Their vernacular language, Avau, has two dialects, but most adults can understand both dialects without any problems. Ten villages in all speak Avau.

They make their living by selling produce and goods to their neighbors, especially within the language area, and other travelers. Copra, which is made out of coconuts, is their only cash crop. Produce and animals such as greens, sweet potatoes, fish, pigs and coconuts are also sold within the villages. The Avau people must rely on personal sales as there are no trade stores within the language boundaries. Only a few Avau people have found work with a timber company located to the west of Gasmata.

Water travel is used frequently by the Avau people, due to their location. Canoes are the most widely used mode of transportation, and dinghies are used occasionally. Travel by air is highly rare, but travel on foot is common. Children and adults alike speak their vernacular language a majority of the time, even if they speak other languages such as English, Tok Pisin, or even a neighboring language.


What Are Their Beliefs?

There are only three churches in the entire Avau language area, two of which are Roman Catholic. The other is the Apostolic Local Church, which began in 2008 and has very limited membership. The Avau people are very interested in having a Bible in their language.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Avau in Papua New Guinea.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Avau
People Name in Country Avau
Alternate Names Awau
Population this Country 1,200
Population all Countries 1,200
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 10497
ROP3 Code 100635
ROP25 Code 300581
ROP25 Name Avau (Awau)
Country Papua New Guinea
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country West New Britain province: south coast and islands around Gasmata.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Papua New Guinea
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country West New Britain province: south coast and islands around Gasmata..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 14.00 %)
95.00 %
Ethnic Religions
5.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Avau (1,200 speakers)
Language Code avb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Avau (1,200 speakers)
Language Code avb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Avau

Primary Language:  Avau

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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