Bantu Somali in Somalia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Subgroups: 5

Subgroup Name Population
Gobaweyn Unknown
Makanne Unknown
Shabelle Unknown
Shambara Unknown
Shiidle Unknown

Introduction / History

The Somali Bantus are an African minority ethnic group. They originally were brought to Somalia in the 19th century as slaves by Arabs. They are culturally, physically and ethnically different from the Somalis who are ethnically cohesive but divided by hostile clans. Somali Bantus speak two languages known as Maay-Maay and Zigua.
When civil war broke out in Somalia, many Somali Bantus were driven from their homes and farms by armed Somali militiamen. Fleeing for their lives, they walked through dangerous territory to reach Kenya. Many died along the way. They were placed in refugee camps. Today most live along the riverbanks of southern Somalia or further south into Kenya. A small number live in either Canada or the United States.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The different Somali Bantu groups are united primarily because of the racial discrimination they face within Somalia. Most Somalis will not intermarry with Somali Bantus, and some will not even eat with them or enter their house. During the civil war in Somalia, Somali Bantus were one of the most vulnerable groups and suffered horribly at the hands of clan militias and criminal gangs. Many have left Somalia.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Somali Bantus are Muslim in name only. Some living in Africa continue to practice their traditional animist rituals. Many have retained their ancestral animist traditions, including the practice of spirit possession dances, animism and the use of magic and curses.


What Are Their Needs?

It was never Almighty God's intent that people depend on magic and spirits! Christ died to set men free from sin and spiritual oppression. The Somali Bantu community need him.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Somali Bantus to depend on God Almighty for their physical and spiritual needs. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Somali Bantus in Somalia.
Pray for a movement to Christ among the Somali Bantus soon.
Pray for the Somali Bantus who have fled to Kenya and the United States to be salt and light to their family members in Somalia.


Scripture Prayers for the Somali Bantu in Somalia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Somali Bantu
People Name in Country Somali Bantu
Natural Name Bantu Somali
Pronunciation BAN-too
Alternate Names Jareer
Population this Country 905,000
Population all Countries 1,080,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 18
PeopleID3 20784
ROP3 Code 103458
Country Somalia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 2  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Hiraan, Bay, Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba. IDPs in Kismayo and Mogadishu.   Source:  Field worker
Country Somalia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 2  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Hiraan, Bay, Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba. IDPs in Kismayo and Mogadishu..   Source:  Field worker
Map of Somali Bantu in Somalia 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 3
Secondary Languages
Somali Mushungulu
Primary Language Maay
Language Code ymm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Somali
  Mushungulu
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: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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