Waliwana in Kenya Tweet
The name Malakote (meaning slave) was given to this people group by the Somalis. The Somalis introduced them to Islam and made them slaves. The people today prefer to be called Ilwana (meaning free men) closely related to the Kiswahili word muunguana translated by Krapf and Cust (1882) to be "a free man". A Christian community among the Ilwana has provided refuge to Muslim Background Believers and other Christians when fighting breaks out and persecution is intense.
They live along the Tana River
Their livilihood is based on farming, fishing and bee-keeping.
They practice Islam mixed with animism and witchcraft. Evangelism efforts have met opposition.
| Profile Source: Worker in Kenya, Pray for Kenya brochure |
| Global Prayer Digest: 2012-01-31 |
| People Name General | Waliwana |
| People Name in Country | Waliwana |
| Population in Kenya | 20,000 |
| World Population | 20,000 |
| Total Countries | 1 |
| Indigenous | Yes |
| Unreached | No |
| Progress Scale | 4 ● |
| GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
| Alternate Names | Ilwana, Malakote |
| People ID | 13432 |
| ROP3 Code | 106128 |
| Country | Kenya | ||
| Region | East and Southern Africa | ||
| Continent | Africa | ||
| 10/40 Window | No | ||
| Persecution Rank | 18 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
| Location in Country | Garissa and Tana River counties: Tana River north of Pokomo, between Bura and Garissa. Source: Ethnologue 2016 | ||
| Country | Kenya |
| Region | East and Southern Africa |
| Continent | Africa |
| 10/40 Window | No |
| Persecution Rank | 18 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
| Location in Country | Garissa and Tana River counties: Tana River north of Pokomo, between Bura and Garissa.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
| Primary Language | Kiwilwana (20,000 speakers) |
| Language Code | mlk Ethnologue Listing |
| Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
| Total Languages | 1 |
| People Groups | Speaking Kiwilwana |
| Primary Language | Kiwilwana (20,000 speakers) |
| Language Code | mlk Ethnologue Listing |
| Total Languages | 1 |
| People Groups | Speaking Kiwilwana |
Primary Language: Kiwilwana
| Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
|---|---|
| Bible-Portions | No |
| Bible-New Testament | No |
| Bible-Complete | No |
| Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
|---|---|
| Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
|---|---|
| Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
| Christianity (Evangelical 6.00 %) |
15.00 %
|
| Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
| Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
| Islam |
85.00 %
|
| Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
| Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
| Unknown |
0.00 %
|
| Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
|---|---|
| Anglican |
0.0 %
|
| Independent |
15.0 %
|
| Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
| Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
| Protestant |
60.0 %
|
| Roman Catholic |
25.0 %
|