The Samo live in northwestern Burkina Faso, in a dry, arid area that receives minimal rainfall. Four different dialects with limited intelligibility makes ministry and translation in the mother tongue difficult. Approximately 75% of the Samo are bilingual in Jula, the trade language of western Burkina Faso. Many missionaries and churches communicate in Jula in order to unify speakers of different Samo dialects. The Samo place a high priority on education. Adults are eager to learn to read, although a shortage of time and funds prevents many from attending literacy classes. The adult literacy rate remains an extremely low 4%. Each village has its own school, and at least 60% of young people currently receive a primary education. Teachers and materials are scarce, and there are often over 100 students in a single class.
Young people have difficulty advancing in the workforce, and frequently resort to subsistence farming in order to support their families. The Samo culture is a mixture of traditional and modern influences. Women wear traditional African cloths, while men and children dress in Western style clothing. Village chiefs settle small disputes, but national government officials preside over larger conflicts. Modernization is seen in the increasing use of motorcycles and bush taxis, and some villages even have solar-powered pumps that provide water year-round.
Christians long for workers who are willing to live among them, teach literacy, and teach the scriptures to them in the Samo's mother tongue.
Scripture Prayers for the Samo, Southern in Burkina Faso.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Samo Southern |
People Name in Country | Samo, Southern |
Natural Name | Southern Samo |
Alternate Names | Sanan; Toma |
Population this Country | 174,000 |
Population all Countries | 174,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 4 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 4 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 14717 |
ROP3 Code | 108630 |
Country | Burkina Faso | ||
Region | Africa, West and Central | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Boucle du Muhoun region, mainly Nayala province, Nouna and Solenzo areas, and Sourou province; Centre-Ouest region, Sanguie province; Nord region, Passore province; also in urban areas, Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Dedougou, and Koudougou cities; Toma dialect: Toma, Yaba, Gossina, Ye, Kougny, and Gassan departments. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Burkina Faso |
Region | Africa, West and Central |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Boucle du Muhoun region, mainly Nayala province, Nouna and Solenzo areas, and Sourou province; Centre-Ouest region, Sanguie province; Nord region, Passore province; also in urban areas, Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Dedougou, and Koudougou cities; Toma dialect: Toma, Yaba, Gossina, Ye, Kougny, and Gassan departments.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 9.50 %) |
30.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
50.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
20.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Samo, Southern (174,000 speakers) |
Language Code | sbd Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Toma |
Dialect Code | 20636 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Samo, Southern (174,000 speakers) |
Language Code | sbd Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Toma |
Dialect Code | 20636 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Samo, Southern |
Primary Language: Samo, Southern
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1964-1991) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1995) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2011-2014) |
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 | God's Story video | God's Story |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Samo, Southern | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
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: Samo, Southern | 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: Samo, Southern | YouVersion Bibles |
Map Source | Burkina Faso Government |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |