Arabized Mararit in Sudan

The Arabized Mararit have only been reported in Sudan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

From an ecological standpoint, there are places that are a blending of two communities which we call an ecotone. For example, a desert gradually morphs into a chaparral community when the land becomes less dry and different plant life emerges. Likewise, there are places in North Africa that are predominantly Arab, and further south, the culture and the people are sub-Saharan African, but blended with that of the Arabs. Sudan is an excellent example of this. There are many sub-Saharan tribes in Sudan that we describe as "Arabized." They look like sub-Saharan Africans and retain a certain degree of their original culture, yet they began adopting the traditions and practices associated with Arabic Islamic culture.
The process of Arabization accelerated when Sudanese Arabs filled the power vacuum left by the Egyptians and the British colonialists at the time of independent in 1956. Arab Muslims achieved greater influence through conquest and an Arabic language-based education system. The Arabized tribes of Sudan include the Mararit people.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For the Arabized Mararit people, agriculture is the basis of the economy. Sorghum and millet are their staple crops, along with watermelons, gourds, okra, sesame, and cotton. They also raise cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and dogs. They make cheese and butter from the milk of both the cows and goats.
Most of the Arabized tribes live in permanent settlements or villages. Their houses are simple round huts with thatched roofs. Those who are nomadic live in temporary camps due to their constant migrating tendencies. They usually live in dome-shaped shelters made of branches covered with grass. In the cities, where the few merchants and businessmen live, the houses are generally rectangular in shape and have tin roofs.
Most of the Arabized African tribes live much like the Arabs of other regions. Their lives revolve around important ceremonies such as birth, marriage, death, and the first haircut and circumcision for boys. The most elaborate of all ceremonies is the marriage ceremony. Polygamy (having more than one wife) is a common practice among the Arabized tribes in Sudan. However, according to Islamic law, a man cannot have more than four wives. After marriage, the newlywed couple generally lives with or near the husband's parents. However, in some groups, the young couple will live with the wife's family until after the birth of the first child.


What Are Their Beliefs?

One of the things that is unique about the Sudanese Arabs is they don't have any Christian tradition like Arabs do further east and north. As they "Arabized" the tribes in Sudan, they made a point of spreading Islam along with their Arabic culture. For this reason, the Arabized tribes in this region are almost entirely Muslim, and very staunchly so. They believe in the "Five Pillars of Islam," but also retain a pragmatic approach to spiritual matters that leads them to use charms and amulets for their daily needs.


What Are Their Needs?

There are often outbreaks of violence in Sudan, and the women and children are usually victims of human trafficking, rape, and murder. They need the Lord's protection.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the Arabized Mararit people in Sudan.
Pray for workers, filled with the love of the Holy Spirit, to go to the Arabized Mararit people.
Pray for the Arabized Mararit people to crave pure spiritual milk and find it in the Word of God.
Pray for a Holy Spirit directed movement to Christ among the Arabized Mararit people.


Scripture Prayers for the Mararit, Arabized in Sudan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mararit, Arabized
People Name in Country Mararit, Arabized
Natural Name Arabized Mararit
Alternate Names Abiyi; Ebiri
Population this Country 124,000
Population all Countries 124,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 10387
ROP3 Code 100440
ROP25 Code 300440
ROP25 Name Arabized Mararit
Country Sudan
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 8  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Primarily north   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Country Sudan
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 8  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Primarily north.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
8.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
92.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Sudanese (124,000 speakers)
Language Code apd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Sudanese (124,000 speakers)
Language Code apd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Sudanese

Primary Language:  Arabic, Sudanese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1927-1964)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1978-2022)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
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 Arabic Bible Online Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Arabic, Sudanese Spoken Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Arabic, Sudanese Spoken YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Arabic, Sudanese Spoken YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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