Lese in Congo, Democratic Republic of

The Lese have only been reported in Congo, Democratic Republic of
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Lese are agriculturalists who have lived in the Ituri Forest of northeastern Congo for more than 400 years. They are believed to have been the first of the wave of Central Sudanic immigrants from the Nile valley. Traditionally they have raised plantains (their staple crop) in forest clearings, on a seven-year rotation. Now they have introduced other crops, such as rice, beans and peanuts. Traditionally, Lese homes are dome structures woven tightly with forest leaves. They have also adopted the mud and wattle structures that other Congolese groups construct.

The Lese have been resistant to change and are widely scattered in small villages and hamlets over a vast area of tropical rain forest. They have an economic relationship with the Efe (pygmies) who have lived in the surrounding forests for thousands of years following a hunting and gathering lifestyle. The Lese receive agricultural labor and forest products (game, nuts, housing material, and honey) from the Efe in exchange for produce.

Limited inroads by Christianity have been made in some areas. The Lese are still largely tied to their traditional religion, which is a mixture of witchcraft and spirit appeasement. Some Lese are becoming interested in schooling, but many remain unaffected by the country's struggling education system. A disappearing road infrastructure limits movement within most of their territory. Health services are very limited in this remote area and there is a high infant mortality rate (80%) among them. The trade languages, Swahili and Bangala, are both used in the Lese area. Many Lese, however, are still monolingual, and some are being assimilated by neighboring groups.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Lese in Congo, Democratic Republic of.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Lese
People Name in Country Lese
Alternate Names Lissi; Mbuti
Population this Country 136,000
Population all Countries 136,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 13043
ROP3 Code 105727
Country Congo, Democratic Republic of
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 41  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Orientale province: Watsa, Djugu, Irumu, and Mambasa territories; Nord-Kivu province: border enclave north of Beni.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Congo, Democratic Republic of
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 41  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Orientale province: Watsa, Djugu, Irumu, and Mambasa territories; Nord-Kivu province: border enclave north of Beni..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 12.00 %)
55.00 %
Ethnic Religions
45.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Lese (136,000 speakers)
Language Code les   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Lese (136,000 speakers)
Language Code les   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Lese

Primary Language:  Lese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2021)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
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
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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