Nao in Ethiopia

The Nao have only been reported in Ethiopia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Nao People Group are part of the Gimira cluster which includes the Dizi, the Tsara, the Benesho and the She. They and the Nao and the others in the Gimira cluster, inhabit the extreme southern and southwestern reaches of the densely forested Kaffa highlands of southwestern Ethiopia. They reside in an altitude of 1500-2500 meters which is not easily accessible. As opposed to the Dizi, the Benesho and others who are migrants to the area, the Nao together with the Tsara were the indigenous inhabitants of the land. They speak Nayi language, an Omotic language which has 58% lexical similarity with Diizin.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Nao subsist by farming. They supplement their diet through fishing and also gathering fruits and vegetables. The Nao were strong and numerous people and had their own kingdom before their active colonization by the Kaffa Kingdom in the mid 19th century. They are now reduced to a fewer number through the war and slavery they were subjected to. The active "Kaffanization" of their culture and language has played a role in their near extinction as a people group.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are followers of an ethnic religion.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to reach these marginalized and geographically inaccessible people for His glory.
Pray to the Lord to send laborers to the field. Pray to the Lord to provide evangelistic resources in their language.


Scripture Prayers for the Nao in Ethiopia.


Profile Source:   MANI 

People Name General Nao
People Name in Country Nao
Alternate Names
Population this Country 18,000
Population all Countries 18,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 13951
ROP3 Code 107081
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Scattered in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Decha Awraja, Shoa Bench wereda, Dulkuma village; Sheko wereda, Aybera, Kosa, and Jomdos villages.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Scattered in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Decha Awraja, Shoa Bench wereda, Dulkuma village; Sheko wereda, Aybera, Kosa, and Jomdos villages..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.41 %)
10.00 %
Ethnic Religions
90.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nayi (18,000 speakers)
Language Code noz   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Nao
Dialect Code 3146   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nayi (18,000 speakers)
Language Code noz   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Nao
Dialect Code 3146   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nayi

Primary Language:  Nayi

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Map Source Amanuel Getachew Mamo  
Profile Source MANI 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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