Jola-Fonyi in Guinea-Bissau


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Jola are a friendly people who are very relaxed and known for their charm towards strangers. They have no caste system like some do in Mauritania. They have subgroups that speak different dialects. One of these dialects is Jola-Fonyi.
The Jola-Fonyi people live in southwestern Senegal in isolated, forested regions of the Casamance with smaller concentrations in the southern part of the Gambia and northern Guinea-Bissau. Some also live in Mauritania.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Using basic tools they grow rice, millet, corn, mangoes, and peanuts. They also raise sheep, cattle and goats. Women gather kola nuts, berries and palm nuts. The women are responsible for gardening, rice, food preparation and care of the house and children. The men cultivate and produce the cash crops. They strongly depend on each other for their survival.
Family is central to the Jola culture. Polygamy is common. They prefer to marry cousins and ask for the bride price in the form of livestock. Young people are taken to "bush schools" when they reach puberty, at which time they are circumcised.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The great majority of the Jola claim to be Muslim, although African traditional practices are mixed with it. They have changed the traditional Islamic beliefs from the true meaning to fit pre-existing fears and beliefs. Their desire to follow Allah is out of fear, not love for him.
The Jola believe in both good and evil spirits. The good spirits protect houses from curses and other troubles while the evil ones demand sacrifices. Shrines are also very prevalent, with various meanings attached to each one. A small percentage are Christian.


What Are Their Needs?

The Jola-Fonyi people have unaddressed medical needs.


Prayer Points

Pray that the medical and nutritional needs of the Jola-Fonyi people will be met.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers to the Jola people.
Pray that the Jola-Fonyi people will hear and understand the word of God in their heart language.
Pray that respected leaders and elders of Jola-Fonyi villages their people to Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Jola-Fonyi in Guinea-Bissau.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jola-Fonyi
People Name in Country Jola-Fonyi
Alternate Names Diola; Dyola; Feleupe; Felupe; Fogny
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 509,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11568
ROP3 Code 102625
ROP25 Code 303409
ROP25 Name Jola-Fonyi
Country Guinea-Bissau
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Cacheu region: Sao Domingos sector.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Guinea-Bissau
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Cacheu region: Sao Domingos sector..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
38.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
59.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Jola-Fonyi (700 speakers)
Language Code dyo   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Jola-Fonyi (700 speakers)
Language Code dyo   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Jola-Fonyi
Photo Source Link Up Africa 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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