The Daasanach are a people with a fairly recent history. Their ties to one another have resulted from a common place of residence rather than from heredity. Exiles from many groups around the area of north Lake Turkana have united in support of one another in this hostile, arid environment. They have developed a unique tradition and culture and are open to the inclusion of other immigrants who are willing to abide by Daasanach customs and values.
Until the turn of the century, we knew very little about the Daasanach, sometimes called the Merille. At that time, formal borders were created for many African countries, and the Daasanach found their traditional lands divided between Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. Since then, these semi-nomadic people have moved as freely as possible across the borders of these countries, but this movement is being more and more restricted by border posts and entry formalities.
The Daasanach are known for their fighting prowess and are feared by many neighboring groups such as the Gabbra and Turkana. The Daasanach celebrate their raids to obtain more cattle. Daasanach warriors are proud of the number of enemies they have killed. They value their unique culture, and the Daasanach are reluctant to adopt outside technology. In the 1960s American missionaries introduced irrigation systems to aid in agriculture, but these systems were neglected after foreigners were expelled from Ethiopia in 1974.
Traditionally the Daasanach people owned cattle and roamed East Africa as nomads. Their cattle have diminished, so many are now farmers who have settled clos to the Omo River for water. Some still have cattle and goats for milk and meat, but they are primarily farmers. They grow pumpkin, corn, sorghum and beans. They roast the corn and boil sorghum to make porridge which they eat with stew. Those who have lost their livestock entirely are called Dies. These people have low status. They make their living by hunting crocodiles and fishing.
Daasanach women get married at 17 and the men marry at age 20. Men are circumcised, and girls are “circumcised” at age 10 or 12 by her mother. Circumcision is what they regard as defining their tribe. Some of the Daasanach join other tribes if they lose their cattle, and others can join them if they are circumcised.
Today church work is being carried out in Kenya where only ten percent of the Daasanach people live. Here there are very few Daasanach Christians. We do not know what is left of earlier church work in Ethiopia. Most Daasanach people remain bound to their traditional religion. They worship a god they call Waag, a sky god who created the Earth. Most depend on the spirit world rather than in the blood of Christ.
The Daasanach people live near the Omo River, where they are periodically vulnerable to diseases brought by mosquitos and tsetse flies.
Pray for Bible translation work to bear good fruit among the Daasanach people in Ethiopia. Pray for the Daasanach people to put their faith in Jesus Christ rather than their traditional gods. Pray for the Lord to protect and guide workers among the Daasanach people. Pray for a movement to Christ to flourish.
Scripture Prayers for the Daasanach in Ethiopia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daasanach_people
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Daasanach+in+Ethiopia&mid=891F3E44A85155A24E47891F3E44A85155A24E47&FORM=VIRE
https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/dassanech.html
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| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
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