Jongor in Chad

The Jongor have only been reported in Chad
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Jongor or Migaami people live in the Guera region of southcentral Chad. The Jongor make their living by farming and raising animals. They live in a remote section of the mountains that is not easily accessed by other peoples. The Jongor speak their own language called Migaama. Only a few gospel recordings are available in Migaama. There are few if any followers of Christ among the Jongor. Chad became independent from France in 1960. Unfortunately, since that date Chad has seen a series of civil wars, the assassinations and arrests of political leaders, coups and wars with Libya and Sudan. A quarter of Chad's income is aid from the UN, NGOs, France, China, and the USA. International agencies consider Chad to be a failed state. Less than 40% of the people are able to read and write. Life expectancy in Chad is under 50 years old. In 2003 Chad became an oil exporting nation. Most of the revenue from the oil went to buying weapons and for the salaries of the Chadian military, not for the welfare of the Chadian people.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The long dry season and conditions of life have had an impact on the Migaami people. The Jongor work the land and cultivate millet, sorghum, maize, beans and peanuts. The Jongor also raise goats and chickens to supplement their diets. They trade their surplus of grains and peanuts to provide for their families what they cannot make for themselves such as cell phones and appliances. A few of the Jongor obtain college degrees and work in professional jobs such as teaching, public offices and nursing. Draughts are common in the region where the Jongor live. If the rains fail, the Jongor can face starvation. The Jongor live in villages ruled by elders. Families arrange marriages. Girls often marry at a young age. A man may have up to four wives if he can afford them. The Jongor tend to marry within their ethnic group. Most parents have a large number of children. It is common for many children to not live past their tenth birthday due to the lack of modern medicine and clean water.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Migaama believed in and served the Margay spirits. These spirits are their intermediaries between men and the supreme Creator God, "Mella." For a long time, they resisted Islam. Once the Arabs had conquered the valleys, it was more difficult to resist, though some fled to the mountains. Later, French colonialists put pressure on them to abandon their mountain dwellings, and they came in contact with the Muslims again. At that time Muslims forced them to abandon their animistic practices. Today, most of them call themselves Sunni Muslims. Though there are some remnants of the 'Margi' practices, the teachings of Islam has mostly replaced the traditional 'Margi' practices. Some of the Migaami have shown great interest in the Christian message. Though the current Chadian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, social pressure is great to remain Muslims. Today 'Margi' worshippers, Muslims and Christians of other tribes live peaceably together. Cultural identity seems to be more important than 'religious' beliefs.


What Are Their Needs?

Solar panels can bring electricity to the Jongor. Teams of Christians can drill wells to provide the Jongor with a steady supply of clean water. Medical personnel can help the Jongor with their physical needs. Most of all, the Jongor need to hear and understand the claims of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them the hope of eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send workers to meet their physical and spiritual needs. Pray a strong church movement would be established among the Jongor in this decade. Pray that the Bible and other Christian resources to be translated into the Migaama language. Pray that Jongor parents would be able to provide for their children and that their children would be able to attend school.


Scripture Prayers for the Jongor, Dionkor in Chad.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jongor, Dionkor
People Name in Country Jongor, Dionkor
Natural Name Jongor
Alternate Names Dionkor; Djonkor; Jongor; Migaami
Population this Country 53,000
Population all Countries 53,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12367
ROP3 Code 104298
ROP25 Code 303411
ROP25 Name Jongor
Country Chad
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Guéra region: Guéra department, Mongo subprefecture, east of Mongo, Abou Telfane canton, Abu Telfan area; Migaama dialect: Baro; Doga dialect: Fityari; Gamiya dialect: Game and Julkulkili; Dambiya dialect: Mala.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Chad
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Guéra region: Guéra department, Mongo subprefecture, east of Mongo, Abou Telfane canton, Abu Telfan area; Migaama dialect: Baro; Doga dialect: Fityari; Gamiya dialect: Game and Julkulkili; Dambiya dialect: Mala..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Migaama (53,000 speakers)
Language Code mmy   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Migaama (53,000 speakers)
Language Code mmy   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Migaama

Primary Language:  Migaama

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2002-2019)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2021)
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 LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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: Migaama YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Migaama YouVersion Bibles
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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