Jola-Fonyi in Gambia


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 being charming with strangers. The Jola reside in southwestern Senegal in isolated, forested regions of the Casamance with smaller concentrations in the southern part of the Gambia and northern Guinea-Bissau. They have a subgroup called the Fonyi, who speak their own dialect, Jola-Fonyi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Mostly farmers, the Jola-Fonyi raise peanuts and rice. The women are responsible for gardening, rice, food preparation, care of the house and children. The men cultivate and produce the cash crops: peanuts, citrus fruits and mangoes. Family is central to the Jola culture, and all are treated equal while performing their roles in the village. They strongly depend on each other for their survival.
Young people are taken to "bush schools" when they reach puberty, at which time they are circumcised. They prefer to marry cousins and ask for the bride price in the form of livestock.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Folk or popular Islam is the predominant religion. The traditional Islamic beliefs have been changed from the true meaning to fit pre-existing fears and beliefs. They follow Allah out of fear, not love. 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.


What Are Their Needs?

Fonyi speakers are much more Christianized than the other Jola peoples. They need a spiritual revival that will drive them to share their faith with their Muslim neighbors.


Prayer Points

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 villages to give their lives to Christ.
Pray that their medical and nutritional needs will be met.
Pray that peace will reign in the Casamance region where many Jola-Fonyi reside.
Pray for the Lord to raise up many Jola-Fonyi people as ambassadors for Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Jola-Fonyi in Gambia.


References

West Africa Gateway


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 142,000
Population all Countries 509,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 11568
ROP3 Code 102625
ROP25 Code 303409
ROP25 Name Jola-Fonyi
Country Gambia
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country West Coast division: southwest.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Gambia
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country West Coast division: southwest..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 4.00 %)
7.00 %
Ethnic Religions
6.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
78.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
9.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Jola-Fonyi (142,000 speakers)
Language Code dyo   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Fogny
Dialect Code 1883   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Jola-Fonyi (142,000 speakers)
Language Code dyo   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Fogny
Dialect Code 1883   Global Recordings 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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