Fon in Benin


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Fon are a large West African people group. Their ancestors were with the 17th century Dahomey Kingdom. The Fon are closely related to the Aja people, whom they broke away from during a dispute regarding a king.

In the 1700s the slave trade was prominent in the parts of West Africa where the Fon live. They were both victims and victimizers. Some Fon people were captured and enslaved while others did the same to neighboring tribes.

Starting in the mid 1800s, France had extensive colonial holdings in much of West Africa. Those areas included places where the Fon people lived. When France lost her colonies after WWII and they needed help rebuilding, Africans were often allowed to come to France. Fon and other peoples came to France, and they live there to this day. However, most live in Benin, but they also live in Gabon, Ghana and Togo.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Like the ethnic groups around them, the Fon people grow okra, yams, maize, taro, millet, sesame, sorghum and cotton. Owning cattle is a sign of wealth. They have markets to sell their goods once or twice a week. Women are more active than men in market activities. They also sell bush meat and crafts on market days. The Fon people are known for their wooden statues which are often used for ancestral worship.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Officially the Fon people are Christian. Like other Christians in West Africa, their version of Christianity is clouded by animistic practices.


What Are Their Needs?

Like other Christianized peoples in West Africa, the Fon need to center their spiritual lives around Jesus Christ and him crucified. They need to put all their faith in the one who has victory over death and sin.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Fon people to put all their faith in Jesus Christ instead of ancestral spirits.

Pray for the Lord to give them an abundant harvest this year, and for them to respond with gratitude to the Lord.

Pray for a powerful disciple making movement among every Fon community in Africa.


Scripture Prayers for the Fon in Benin.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fon_people#:~:text=Their%20total%20population%20is%20estimated,member%20of%20the%20Gbe%20languages.&text=The%20history%20of%20the%20Fon,roots%20with%20the%20Aja%20people.

https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/fon.html

https://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/fon_tribe.html


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Fon
People Name in Country Fon
Alternate Names Dahomean; Fo; Fogbe; Kotafon
Population this Country 2,192,000
Population all Countries 2,338,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 11222
ROP3 Code 103041
ROP25 Code 302433
ROP25 Name Fon
Country Benin
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Widespread. Atlantique, Littoral and Zou departments.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Benin
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Widespread. Atlantique, Littoral and Zou departments..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.


Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 18.31 %)
65.00 %
Ethnic Religions
25.40 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
9.00 %
Non-Religious
0.30 %
Other / Small
0.30 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Fon
Language Code fon   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
French Gun
Primary Language Fon
Language Code fon   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  French
  Gun
People Groups Speaking Fon

Primary Language:  Fon

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1967)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1994)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2011-2014)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Fon Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Fon YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Fon YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Fon Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Brian Kelley - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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