Geko Karen in Myanmar (Burma)

The Geko Karen have only been reported in Myanmar (Burma)
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Additional PDF Profile

Identity

The Geko Karen, who consist of three subgroups each of which speaks its own dialect, are also called "Kadaw" by some other tribes, which means "people from beyond the hills." The 1931 census of Burma returned 3,829 "Gheko" people, of whom an astonishing 3,567 (93.2%) identified as Christians and the rest as animists. The Geko and Geba Karen groups live in many of the same areas and have been grouped together for administrative purposes by the Baptist Church, but they speak two distinct languages.

Location: Despite having a population of less than 20,000 people, the Geko Karen are dispersed over a large area in five states and regions of central-eastern Myanmar. Most are found in the Taungoo District in Bago (formerly Pegu) Region, with dozens of other Geko villages in parts of the Mandalay Region and in Kayin, Kayah, and Shan states.

Language: The Geko Karen language, which is part of the Central Karenic branch of the Tibeto-Burman family, has three tones and enjoys vigorous use in their communities. Many people also speak S’gaw Karen or Burmese as a second trade language. Some researchers consider Geko to be a subgroup or clan of the Padaung tribe.


History

Since time immemorial, the ancestors of the Karen people had passed down oral stories that told of creation, the fall of man, and the Tower of Babel, among other things. In 1830, before they had heard the Gospel or had ever seen a Bible, some Karen elders told missionary Francis Mason this creation story: “God created heaven and earth. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars. Then He created man from the earth. He then created a woman by taking a rib out of the man. Then the creation of men and women was finished. He created again, making food and drink. He created rice, water, and fire. He also created cows, elephants and birds. Then the creation of the animals was finished.”


Customs

For centuries the Geko Karen have lived simple lives, growing crops on their mountains and hunting and fishing. Due to inter-tribal warfare, many of their villages were built along mountain ridges to protect from raids while offering clear views of any approaching raiders. The main adversaries of the Geko were the Paku and Bwe Karen, although the powerful Kayah “looked impartially on the contending parties and plundered each as convenient opportunities offered.”


Religion

For countless centuries before they became Christians, the Karen groups preserved belief in a Supreme being, Y’wa. They had lost contact with Him and His teachings, however, so that when the first missionary engaged them in the 1830s, he reported: “They believe in one god, who is good, but who has little to do with the world at present. They also believe in spirits, good and bad, and in a personal devil, who is the author of all the evil and suffering of life. This devil and the evil spirits are the principal objects of their worship, as they think thus to appease them, and so avoid the harm they might afflict.”


Christianity

Approximately 80 percent of Geko Karen are Christians today, meeting in dozens of small church fellowships scattered throughout their territory. After the American missionary Moses Bixby passed through their area in the mid-1850s from his base in Taungoo, it was said: “He was instrumental in bringing the Geko and other tribes into peaceful relations.… Several Karen churches were planted among the mountain people.” Although the Geko Karen language exists in written form using the Roman script, no Scripture has ever been translated into Geko. An audio presentation of the Gospel in Geko was made many years ago by the missionary organization Global Recordings, although it appears that few people have heard it.


Prayer Items

Scripture Prayers for the Karen, Geko in Myanmar (Burma).


Profile Source:   Asia Harvest  

Additional PDF Profile


People Name General Karen, Geko
People Name in Country Karen, Geko
Natural Name Geko Karen
Alternate Names Gek'o; Gheko Karen; Gaikho; Gayho; Geckho; Gecko; Geker; Gekho; Gekkhoo; Geko; Geko Kayah; Ghekhol; Kadaw; ကယ်ခို ကရင်
Population this Country 19,000
Population all Countries 19,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 11881
ROP3 Code 103339
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Bago Region: Taungoo District; Mandalay Region: Yamethin District in southern Mandalay; Kayin State: Thandaunggyi Township; Kayah State: Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, and Hpasaung townships; Shan State: Pekon Township   Source:  Asia Harvest prayer profile 2024
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Bago Region: Taungoo District; Mandalay Region: Yamethin District in southern Mandalay; Kayin State: Thandaunggyi Township; Kayah State: Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, and Hpasaung townships; Shan State: Pekon Township.   Source:  Asia Harvest prayer profile 2024
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 40.00 %)
80.00 %
Ethnic Religions
20.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Karen, Geko (19,000 speakers)
Language Code ghk   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Karen, Geko (19,000 speakers)
Language Code ghk   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Karen, Geko

Primary Language:  Karen, Geko

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
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
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Karen, Geko YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Karen, Geko YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Asia Harvest-Operation Myanmar 
Map Source Asia Harvest-Operation Myanmar  
Profile Source Asia Harvest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.