Yao in Mozambique


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Yao have lived in northern Mozambique for hundreds of years. A close look at the history of the Yao people as a whole will show that their ethno geographic center is located in a small village called Chiconono, in the northwestern Mozambican province of Niassa. When Arabs arrived on the east coast of Africa they began trading with theYao people, mainly slave and ivory, in exchange for clothes and guns. Because of their involvement in this coastal trade they became one of the richest and most influential tribes in Southern Africa.

Large Yao kingdoms came into being as mighty Yao chiefs took control of the Niassa province of Mozambique in the 19th century. During that time the Yao began to move from their traditional home in today's Malawi and Tanzania, which resulted in the Yao populations they now have. The most important result of the great chiefdoms was the turning of the whole nation to Islam around the turn of the 20th century and after the 1st World War. Because of their trade with the Arabs, the Yao chiefs (sultans) needed scribes who could read and write Arabic. The Islam teachers who were employed and lived in the Yao villages, made a significant impact on the Yao people because they could offer them literacy, a holy book, smart clothes and a square, instead of round, houses.

Furthermore, the Yao sultans strongly resisted the Portuguese, British and German colonial rule, which was viewed as a major threat to them. The British, who were seen as Christians, tried to stop the slave trade by attacking some of the Yao slave caravans near the coast. They freed the slaves and confiscated the ivory, which the slaves had been transporting. The greater Yao chief Mataka decided that becoming a Christian would have a negative economic impact on his people, while Islam offered them a social system, which would assimilate their traditional culture. Because of the political and ritual domination of the chiefs, their conversion to Islam caused their subjects to do likewise.


Where Are they Located?

There are a minimum estimated 450,000 Yao people living in Mozambique. They largely occupy the eastern and northern part of the Niassa province and form about 40% of the population of Lichinga, the capital of this province.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Mozambican Yao people are generally agricultural. Growing a good corn crop has everything to do with how a given family makes a living. Their level of production is mostly subsistence and therefore they basically eat what they grow. When a good corn crop is produced they sometimes will sell some of it on the local market in order to buy things that they do not produce themselves such as soap, salt and bicycles.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Islam which the Yao of Mozambique have embraced, is not the orthodox religion, which is found in the countries such as Iran, Iraq, Saudi-Arabia, ect., but is totally intermingled with their traditional animistic belief system. It is often referred to as "Folk Islam."


What Are Their Needs?

The obvious need of the Yao people is a personal, hand-holding relationship with Jesus Christ, forsaking their practice of witchcraft and Islam. There is a need for missionaries who can patiently learn the Ciyawo language, develop relationships in the villages and make disciples by displaying the love of Christ, preaching the gospel and operating in the signs and wonders, as the Yao people are very "spiritual" people who have experienced the power of demonic forces in their lives and communities.


Prayer Points

Please pray that the Lord would remove the blindfolds which Satan has placed upon the hearts of the Yao people, and that laborers would be sent to plant seeds that would take root in fertile soil, and produce a great harvest of souls.
Pray for freedom from witchcraft, fear and envy.
Pray that the Lord would draw indigenous expressions of worship among new Yao believers as music was suppressed at the advent of Islam in their culture.
Pray that the chiefs, secretaries and Muslim leaders in every village would be saved and leverage their influence among the others in their village for the kingdom of God.


Scripture Prayers for the Yao in Mozambique.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

The Gospel Among the Yawo of Africa

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People Name General Yao
People Name in Country Yao
Pronunciation yow
Alternate Names Ajawa; Ayao; Chiyao; Wajao
Population this Country 313,000
Population all Countries 3,654,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
People ID 15988
ROP3 Code 110980
ROP25 Code 308950
ROP25 Name Yao (Malawi)
Country Mozambique
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 39  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Niassa province: south and east of Lake Malawi; Zambezia province: Gurue district, northwest border; Cabo DelgadopProvince: Ruvumu river near Negomano; western Nampula province.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Mozambique
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 39  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Niassa province: south and east of Lake Malawi; Zambezia province: Gurue district, northwest border; Cabo DelgadopProvince: Ruvumu river near Negomano; western Nampula province..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Yao in Mozambique Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.00 %)
1.40 %
Ethnic Religions
4.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
94.60 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Yao (313,000 speakers)
Language Code yao   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Yao (313,000 speakers)
Language Code yao   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Yao

Primary Language:  Yao

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1880-2008)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1898-1994)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1920-2015)
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
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Yao Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General I am Yawo Project General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Yao 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: Yao YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Yao Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source The I Am Yawo Project 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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