Bantu Somali in Kenya


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Over 200 years ago Arab traders took people from their homes in Mozambique and Malawi to become slaves in Somalia. This slavery persisted until the 1930s, but the Bantu remained severely oppressed, rejected by Somali society. The Somali Bantu refer to themselves as Bantu and have low status in Somalia. Most of them speak Af-Maay. They are mostly farmers who eat their own produce.

The Somali civil war of the 1990s was used as an excuse to steal land and property from the Bantu. Many were raped, beaten, and killed during this time. Fleeing to Kenya, many Bantu found refuge in camps where a sizable number remain waiting to find a permanent home.


Where Are they Located?

Most of these refugees in Kenya are either in the Dadaab Refugee Camp in northeastern Kenya or the Kakuma Refugee Camp in the northwest.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They mostly marry among themselves and there are few marriages between them and the Somalis. Bantu Somalis in Kenyan refugee camps live in dire poverty and squalor. Some have tried to start small businesses. Women are often raped and men beaten if they go outside the camp to find firewood. Many of them are being relocated to Tanzania or the United States.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of them are Muslims but some became Catholics and some are animists.


What Are Their Needs?

The Somali Bantu people in Kenya need a permanent home where they can earn a living and find education for their children.


Prayer Points

Pray that the troubles the Somali Bantu have had will lead them to Jesus Christ.
Pray for a Bible studies and disciple-making movements to start in refugee camps.
Pray that the Somali Bantu will encounter the generosity and love of Christ through His followers in Kenya and the United States.
Pray that their hearts will be opened to the gospel as their physical needs are met.
Pray for peace and prosperity for the Somali Bantu, and that this displaced people will soon find their Heavenly Father.


Scripture Prayers for the Somali Bantu in Kenya.


References

http://orvillejenkins.com/peoples/somalibantu.html
http://howgenocidesend.ssrc.org/Besteman/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRrlEF7F1qc
http://www.hartfordinfo.org/issues/wsd/immigrants/somali_bantu.pdf
http://cis.org/articles/2003/back1303.html
https://ethnomed.org/culture/somali-bantu/somali-bantu-refugees
http://www.irinnews.org/report/31830/kenya-somalia-unhcr-preparing-move-somali-bantus-kakuma


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

People Name General Somali Bantu
People Name in Country Somali Bantu
Natural Name Bantu Somali
Pronunciation BAN-too
Alternate Names Jareer
Population this Country 115,000
Population all Countries 1,080,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 20784
ROP3 Code 103458
Country Kenya
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Dadaab, Kakuma, Nairobi.   Source:  Field worker
Country Kenya
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Dadaab, Kakuma, Nairobi..   Source:  Field worker
Map of Somali Bantu in Kenya Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.95 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Maay
Language Code ymm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Somali
Primary Language Maay
Language Code ymm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Somali
People Groups Speaking Maay

Primary Language:  Maay

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2006-2024)
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maay Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Emmanuel Adiba - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: SIL / WLMS. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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