Italian in Somalia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Italians are originally from the nation state of Italy. They speak Italian, a language based on Latin. There are probably about 30 dialects and regional Italian languages. The original settlers of the Italian Peninsula include Greeks, Etruscans, Latins, and Romans. Their land was named Italia by the ancient Greeks who once controlled the Mediterranean region. That changed in 146 BC when the emerging Roman Empire won the Third Punic War. Rome maintained control of the region until the 400s AD when they were defeated by various Gothic tribes.
The Roman Empire was foundational for Western civilization. Much of their technology, political structure and the Roman Catholic Church formed Western civilization. Even after the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire in 476AD, other empires either emerged from it, or emulated it. First there was the Byzantine Empire, which was the eastern half of the Roman Empire which lasted until 1453. Later there was the so-called Holy Roman Empire, which lasted in some form for 1,000 years.
The Renaissance was birthed in Northern Italian city states like Florence, Milan, Bologna, and Turin. These states were economically and culturally powerful. They even established universities. Yet unifying as a nation was problematic for centuries. There were the Napoleonic Wars and hostile popes who did not want Italian kings to rival their power. Finally in 1861, Italy became a nation state with Victor Emmanuel II as their first king. The deal was sealed when Italian troops took Rome in 1870-71. Rome was now the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Italy was one of the four victorious great powers in WWI. They annexed more territory and islands, and soon began to take colonies in Africa. Italy's defeat in WWII meant the loss of their short-lived colonies in Libya and Ethiopia. They moved from being a kingdom to being a republic in 1946.
Throughout their long history, Italians have often moved elsewhere, mostly for economic reasons. Most of the Italians who left Italy did so between the 1880s and 1914 when the country was facing serious economic troubles. There is an Italian diaspora in dozens of countries including Somalia. Somalia was an Italian protectorate in the 1930s. The Italians and the British fought over control of this part of Africa. Most Italians who settled in Somalia left after WWII, especially in the 1960s.


What Are Their Lives Like?

One cannot generalize about the jobs held by Italians in diaspora. They have come a long way since taking low paying jobs in the days gone by. Despite their small numbers, Italians have affected Somalia's arts, culture and cuisine. No matter where Italians are, people enjoy their food, and that includes the Somalis.
Family life is very important to Italians no matter where they live. Their families are smaller, and women have more rights than they did in decades past. Italians respect and care for the elderly; the younger generations are expected to care for the needs of retired relatives. If at all possible, Italians have contact with their extended families. This is more difficult for those in diaspora.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Over 90% of Italians profess to be Catholic, but less than 1% attend church more than three times a year, including weddings and funerals. Secularism and the occult are growing among Italians.


What Are Their Needs?

Italians need people with the character of Jesus to live among them and show them the ways of truth. On paper Italians are 98% Christian, but their form of Christianity often does not center around Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ is often compromised either by secularism or church traditions.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to a Christ-centered spirituality among the Italian people in Somalia.
Pray hearts will soon be softened to receive the good news of Jesus Christ.
Pray that the power of the gospel would overcome materialism, hedonism, secularism, and occultic practices. May Christ be glorified among the Italian people.
Pray for Italian Christ followers to actively take the savior to their friends and family members.


Scripture Prayers for the Italian in Somalia.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italians
https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-blog/erasmus-tips/10-things-to-know-about-italian-people-1173000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Somalis


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Italian
People Name in Country Italian
Alternate Names
Population this Country 6,500
Population all Countries 37,699,000
Total Countries 60
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 12273
ROP3 Code 104096
ROP25 Code 303258
ROP25 Name Italian
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)
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)

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.00 %)
83.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
3.00 %
Non-Religious
14.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Italian (6,500 speakers)
Language Code ita   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Italian (6,500 speakers)
Language Code ita   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Italian

Primary Language:  Italian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1531-1984)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1530-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1471-2014)
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
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Italian Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Italian YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Italian YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source 20257964 - Pixabay 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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