Kenya's Samburu speakers resisted acceptance of the Gospel for 50 years. Yet God opened their hearts, and many now follow Christ.
Like the related Maasai, many Samburu are nomadic cattle herders. Five to 10 families move together to new pasture lands every five weeks. Pastors regularly visit city and village families, but maintaining contact with nomads is difficult. Those believers have few Christians for fellowship, when they move so much.
Pastors preach from the available Maasai translation to the Samburu and a neighboring group, the Ilchamus, but they struggle to communicate Scripture concepts effectively. Language is a significant hurdle, though the groups are related. Some Maasai words are derogatory or vulgar in Samburu.
Cultural differences also create issues between Samburu and Ilchamus villages. Many Ilchamus people fish and grow crops for a living. These are taboo activities for the Maasai and are seldom done by Samburu speakers.
In a 2004 meeting, about 11 Samburu church leaders from various denominations shared a story: "The Samburu once had a 'book.' But a cow ate their 'book.' And the only way to get the 'book' back is through the cow." Church leaders then promised to each donate a cow to help fund translation work.
* Scripture Prayers for the Samburu in Kenya.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
Expanded PDF Profile |
People Name General | Samburu |
People Name in Country | Samburu |
World Population | 303,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
Alternate Names | Burkeneji |
People ID | 14672 |
ROP3 Code | 108573 |
Country | Kenya | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 40 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties: Lake Turkana east towards Marsabit. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Kenya |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 40 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties: Lake Turkana east towards Marsabit.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Language | Samburu (303,000 speakers) |
Language Code | saq Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Samburu (303,000 speakers) |
Language Code | saq Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Samburu |
Primary Language: Samburu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2012–2015) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2018) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
World Bibles |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Samburu |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 12.00 %) |
30.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
70.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
50.0 %
|
Independent |
10.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
30.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
10.0 %
|