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 enemy 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 this part of Africa as nomads. But today this people group no longer owns cattle, and they have started to settle down as farmers.
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.
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 this decade.
Scripture Prayers for the Daasanach in Ethiopia.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Other PDF Profile |
Global Prayer Digest: 2006-12-19 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2009-01-17 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2013-01-07 |
People Name General | Daasanach |
People Name in Country | Daasanach |
Pronunciation |
dah-sah-NAHCH
|
Alternate Names | Daasanech; Galeba; Guleb; Marille; Merille; Reshait; Reshiat |
Population this Country | 86,000 |
Population all Countries | 110,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 14549 |
ROP3 Code | 108362 |
Country | Ethiopia | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 39 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: lower Omo river, along Lake Turkana. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Ethiopia |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 39 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: lower Omo river, along Lake Turkana.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 1.00 %) |
1.50 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
88.50 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
10.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Daasanach (86,000 speakers) |
Language Code | dsh Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Daasanach (86,000 speakers) |
Language Code | dsh Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Daasanach |
Primary Language: Daasanach
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2000-2006) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2014) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Bible-NT Audio | 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 | Jesus Film: view in Daasanach | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime | Jesus Film Project |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, 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: Daasanach | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Daasanach | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Rod Waddington - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Map Source | Joshua Project / Global Mapping International |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |