Southern Samo in Burkina Faso

The Southern Samo have only been reported in Burkina Faso
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

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.


Prayer Points

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 178,000
Population all Countries 178,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14717
ROP3 Code 108630
Country Burkina Faso
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 20  (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 20  (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 (178,000 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 (178,000 speakers)
Language Code sbd   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Toma
Dialect Code 20636   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Samo, Southern
Map Source Burkina Faso Government  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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