Yamba in Cameroon


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Yamba inhabit a remote mountain range in the North West Province of Cameroon, just south of the Nigerian border. Seventeen Yamba villages within a thirty kilometer radius are accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles, or by foot, due to poor road conditions. Throughout these Bamenda highlands, comprised of both rocky peaks and narrow valleys, the Yamba farm corn, beans, cocoyams and peanuts and raise livestock.

The Yamba trace their ancestry back to the Tikars who migrated from Kimi, a region eighty miles east of Yamba land. For years, the Yamba remained quite isolated because of the difficulty in reaching this region. It was not until 1928 that any mission was able to reach the Yamba. Since 1975, with the blasting of a road over Rom Rock, there has been much more outside influence.

The people speak Yamba, the language of the region, along with some Pidgin and English. Several dialects of Yamba exist, with the Mbem dialect playing an important role, since it is widely understood by the other dialects. SIL has been working with this language group since 1976 with the arrival of Virginia Bradley and Julie VanDyken. Since then, much progress has been made in obtaining Scripture in Yamba. In February 1993, the Yamba celebrated the dedication of the New Testament in their mother tongue. Currently, the Book of Jonah is available in Yamba. SIL has recently begun promoting literacy among the Yamba. With only a 15% literacy among adults, much work remains. Since the Yamba lack the infrastructure needed to build themselves up spiritually, outside assistance is needed.

Although 75% of the people call themselves Christian, many still hold onto traditional beliefs as a way to protect oneself against evil. Much prayer and support is needed if Scripture is to have an impact in reviving the Church among the Yamba.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Yamba in Cameroon.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Yamba
People Name in Country Yamba
Alternate Names Kaka; Kakayamba; Mbubem; Yambe
Population this Country 146,000
Population all Countries 168,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 13636
ROP3 Code 106486
ROP25 Code 305337
ROP25 Name Mbubem (Yamba)
Country Cameroon
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 43  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country North West region: Donga-Mantung division, Central Nwa subdivision; plains east of Nwa, Nkongsamba, Bafia. Seasonal immigrants in Mambila plateau, Nigeria.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Cameroon
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 43  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country North West region: Donga-Mantung division, Central Nwa subdivision; plains east of Nwa, Nkongsamba, Bafia. Seasonal immigrants in Mambila plateau, Nigeria..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 18.00 %)
75.00 %
Ethnic Religions
25.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Yamba (146,000 speakers)
Language Code yam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Yamba (146,000 speakers)
Language Code yam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Yamba
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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