Introduction / History

The Nimbari are a tiny people group of Nigeria. Their language is Nyam (aka Nyambolo and Nimbari) is an endangered indigenous language of Nigeria, which is part of the Adamawa-Ubangi cluster belonging to the Afro-Asiatic class. The Nyam people have held the Nyam Chiefdom for over a century, which rules over several villages in Taraba State, Nigeria.

Nyam is spoken in Ndallang, Andamin, and other villages in Karim Lamido, Local Government Area (LGA) in Taraba State, Nigeria.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The major occupation of the Nyam people is agriculture. They grow maize, rice, sorghum, millet, and cassava. Their cash crops include coffee, tea, ground nuts, cotton, and yams. They also herd cattle, sheep, and goats. Some breed rabbits and pigs. Communities along the river fish all year round. Other make a living through pottery, cloth-weaving, dyeing, mat-making, carving, embroidery and blacksmithing.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The primary religion practiced by the Nyam people is ethnoreligion. Animism, which holds that natural physical entities such as animals, plants, and even inanimate objects possess a spiritual essence, is a major part of this belief system. Ethnoreligion is deeply rooted in a people's ethnic identity. Therefore, it is difficult to come to faith because conversion would be viewed as rejection of one s cultural.

What Are Their Needs?

Nyam is thought to be used as the first language by a decreasing number of young people. It is not taught in schools. Survey work would be helpful in assessing in what domains Nyam, English, Hausa, and neighboring languages are being used and by what age groups. Community leaders may be interested in language development to preserve their language. Workshops may become available that that would expose participants to language vitality and potential short-term development and translation projects.

Prayer Points

Pray Nyam people will access Scripture in neighboring languages to see if any are intelligible to them to help them grow in their relationship with God.
Pray Nyam community and church leaders will seek help in analyzing the vitality of their language to determine what language development they desire and if translation projects are needed.

Scripture Prayers for the Nimbari in Nigeria.

References

Nyam language - Wikipedia
Nyam | Ethnologue Free
PeopleGroups.org Nyam