Introduction / History

The Male (Maala) are indigenous to the Woreda rural district of southern Ethiopia, where they subsist on agriculture and herding. Only one per cent are urban. They have their own government within a federalized system based on ethno-linguistics. They have a council, executive administration and judiciary. They are headed by a king. Indeed, historically, this area of Ethiopia was a mosaic of kingdoms and chiefdoms in the nineteenth century before the area was absorbed into Ethiopia in the twentieth century.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They are a rural agricultural and herding culture, with a distinct division of labor that minimizes the role of women. Labor is hard and the soil is exhausted. Life is punctuated by ceremony and ritual. Men are more politically important. Family and clans are important. Few know urban life. Most practice traditional African religion.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most practice traditional African religion, which emphasizes family, clans, ancestors, spirits, nature and sacred places. They believe that their ruler must be protected from women and thus they have the ashtime, a male who assumes female attributes to protect the ruler from women. It is a religious office practicing a gender ritual which seeks to integrate society, human and spiritual.

Surprisingly for Ethiopia, there are more Protestants than the more liturgical Ethiopian Orthodox, the former ancient state church. The Bible and Christian resources are available in their language, in print and audio media and apps. There are no Muslims.

What Are Their Needs?

The Males need cultural preservation in the face of external pressures, increased agricultural productivity and soil revitalization, and veterinary medicine and market access. There is need for sanitation, health services, maternal and childcare, clean water and food security. Women need larger economic roles. Craftsmen need to be integrated into society instead of being marginal.

Prayer Items

Pray for agronomists and instruction in soil rejuvenation and food security.
Pray for veterinarians.
Pray for development in health, education and communication.
Pray for hydrologists to provide clean water.
Pray for a people movement to Christ among the non-Christian segment of Male society.
Pray that the churches will be missional and biblically literate.
Pray that Christian resources will be accessed by both Christians and traditionalists.

References

Scripture Prayers for the Male in Ethiopia.