Akhvakh in Russia

The Akhvakh have only been reported in Russia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Other PDF Profile

Introduction / History

The Akhvakh, who speak their own distinct language, live in 9 major villages or towns in the mountainous region of west central Dagestan, and also in several Akhvakh enclaves in Dagestani urban areas. Before 1930, Russia considered them to be a distinct ethnic group. Since then, Russia has combined them into the Avar ethnic group. The Akhvakh speak their own distinct language, Akhvakh and maintain their distinct culture.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Akhvakh people live in a remote area. They make their living by farming and raising livestock. They suffer high rates of alcoholism like many other peoples in this region.


What Are Their Beliefs?

As do many of the peoples of Dagestan, they practice widespread folk Islam which exists alongside official Islam and its Five Pillars. One Dagestani scholar suggests that such animistic folk Islamic practices are especially strong among the Akhvakh, although not much less so among the other 33 language groups of Dagestan. An Akhvakh mullah might write Arabic Koranic verses with ink pen on a piece of paper, soaked the paper in a cup of water until the ink dissolved in the water and then had the ill person drink the water, accompanied by memorized Arabic incantations.


What Are Their Needs?

There are only two known Christ followers among the Akhvakh people, a mother and daughter. This people group needs many to show them the way of Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8), who demonstrated the power of the Lord over destructive spirits.


Prayer Points

Pray for the two Akhvakh Christian believers to be salt and light to their families and community.
Pray for translation efforts to be accurate and for materials to be widely distributed. In recent years the Lord’s Prayer has been translated into the unique Akhvakh language.
Pray for Oral Bible Translation work in the language.
Pray for Akhvakh people to have dreams and visions of the risen, victorious Christ, and share their experience with others. May it lead to openness to the only Savior.
Pray for the Akhvakh people to be protected from the widespread violence in their part of the world.


Scripture Prayers for the Akhvakh in Russia.


References

NCRP


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  
Other PDF Profile

People Name General Akhvakh
People Name in Country Akhvakh
Pronunciation AHK-vahk
Alternate Names Akhwakh; Axvax
Population this Country 6,700
Population all Countries 6,700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 0  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 10224
ROP3 Code 100187
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Dagestan Republic: Akhvakhsky district, 6 villages; Kakhib county. 3 villages.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Dagestan Republic: Akhvakhsky district, 6 villages; Kakhib county. 3 villages..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Akhvakh in Russia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.03 %)
0.03 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.97 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Akhvakh (6,700 speakers)
Language Code akv   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Akhvakh (6,700 speakers)
Language Code akv   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Akhvakh

Primary Language:  Akhvakh

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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