Suri, Tirmaga-Chai in Ethiopia

The Suri, Tirmaga-Chai have only been reported in Ethiopia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Surma people live in the remote southwest corner of Ethiopia. The Surma have a basic subsistence and barter economy. Their wealth is based on their cattle, and the main food source is the produce from their own crops. There is very little outside trade. The Surma are a highly monolingual and homogenous society, living beyond most of the influences of the modern world and its technology. Their tenuous relationship with neighboring ethnic groups often erupts in fighting and loss of life.

The girl pictured here shows some of the typical Surma characteristics for both men and women: large earplugs, decorative body painting, the hair shaved in patterns. Women wear a leather garment fastened at one shoulder which encircles the waist like a skirt. Men and children typically wear no clothing. Surma women are noted for the large clay lip plates worn in the lower lip.

Mission work was initiated among the Surma in the early 1970s. Due to various outside pressures, however, this Christian outreach lasted only a few years before leaving. A church was not established and today, there are no known Christians. The language has no written form and there is no Gospel witness among the Surma. Christian missionaries are in the beginning stages of making contact and initiating a new outreach to the Surma people.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Suri, Tirmaga-Chai in Ethiopia.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Suri, Tirmaga-Chai
People Name in Country Suri, Tirmaga-Chai
Alternate Names Dhuri; Kachipo; Surma, Suri; Tirma
Population this Country 51,000
Population all Countries 51,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 15130
ROP3 Code 109622
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 Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Bench-Maji zone, toward Sudan border; west of Mizan Teferi.   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 Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Bench-Maji zone, toward Sudan border; west of Mizan Teferi..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.40 %)
4.00 %
Ethnic Religions
96.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Suri, Tirmaga-Chai (51,000 speakers)
Language Code suq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Suri, Tirmaga-Chai (51,000 speakers)
Language Code suq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Suri, Tirmaga-Chai

Primary Language:  Suri, Tirmaga-Chai

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2004-2023)
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Suri Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Suri, Tirmaga-Chai YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Suri, Tirmaga-Chai YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Rod Waddington - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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