The Ciramba (also called Gouin or Cerma) are rather small numerically but big on ethnic pride. They live in southwest Burkina Faso, with a few thousand spilling into northern Côte d'Ivoire. The main highway linking Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso runs the length of their traditional territory, which results in a large percentage of Ciramba residing in urban areas.
The Ciramba area has a long rainy season, a blessing since most are subsistence farmers. To earn money, farmers sell surplus crops and some women sell baskets, pottery, or shea nuts. The Ciramba work very well together, and will often farm the fields collectively. A balafon (similar to a xylophone) player often accompanies these groups as they work, sending messages through his music to spur them on!
Many Ciramba know Jula, the local trade language, quite well, but they still cling tightly to Cerma, their mother tongue. They are receptive to literacy efforts in both Jula and Cerma. In the pilot phase of a new program, the government has two bilingual schools, where initial instruction and materials are in Cerma. The percentage of children enrolled in primary schools is one of the highest in Burkina Faso.
Family structure is unique in that the maternal uncle holds the most authority in the home. Marriages are often polygamous, and two to three generations of a family live together in a compound of mud-brick huts. The land chief, who performs ritual sacrifices, is a village's most powerful individual.
Most Ciramba follow the local traditional religion, which, among other things, advocates the power of sacrifices to appease the spirit world. Furthermore, there are approximately 6,000 Ciramba Muslims. Nevertheless, there is a strong, although small, self-propagating church amongst the Ciramba. Two Bible translators are working to ensure that more churches use the Cerma Scriptures that are available, and that translation and literacy work moves ahead efficiently.
Scripture Prayers for the Gouin in Côte d'Ivoire.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Gouin |
People Name in Country | Gouin |
Alternate Names | Ciraamba; Ciramba; Guin; Gwen; Kirma; Senufo |
Population this Country | 3,700 |
Population all Countries | 85,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 4 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 11933 |
ROP3 Code | 103461 |
ROP25 Code | 302780 |
ROP25 Name | Gouin |
Country | Côte d'Ivoire | ||
Region | Africa, West and Central | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Savanes District, Ouangolodougou area, north of Ferkessedougou. 5 villages along main road to Banfora. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Côte d'Ivoire |
Region | Africa, West and Central |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | No |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Savanes District, Ouangolodougou area, north of Ferkessedougou. 5 villages along main road to Banfora.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 8.00 %) |
11.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
81.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
8.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Cerma |
Language Code | cme Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Cerma |
Language Code | cme Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Cerma |
Primary Language: Cerma
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1995-2011) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2011-2013) |
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 | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Cerma | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | Walking with Jesus video | Jesus Film Project |
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: Cerma | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Cerma | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Download scripture in this language | eBible.org |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |