The Surma people live in the remote southwest corner of Ethiopia. The Surma have a basic subsistence and barter economy. Their wealth is based on their cattle, and the main food source is the produce from their own crops. There is very little outside trade. The Surma are a highly monolingual and homogenous society, living beyond most of the influences of the modern world and its technology. Their tenuous relationship with neighboring ethnic groups often erupts in fighting and loss of life.
The girl pictured here shows some of the typical Surma characteristics for both men and women: large earplugs, decorative body painting, the hair shaved in patterns. Women wear a leather garment fastened at one shoulder which encircles the waist like a skirt. Men and children typically wear no clothing. Surma women are noted for the large clay lip plates worn in the lower lip.
Mission work was initiated among the Surma in the early 1970s. Due to various outside pressures, however, this Christian outreach lasted only a few years before leaving. A church was not established and today, there are no known Christians. The language has no written form and there is no Gospel witness among the Surma. Christian missionaries are in the beginning stages of making contact and initiating a new outreach to the Surma people.
Scripture Prayers for the Suri, Tirmaga-Chai in Ethiopia.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Suri, Tirmaga-Chai |
People Name in Country | Suri, Tirmaga-Chai |
Alternate Names | Dhuri; Kachipo; Surma, Suri; Tirma |
Population this Country | 50,000 |
Population all Countries | 50,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 4 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 15130 |
ROP3 Code | 109622 |
ROP25 Code | 307765 |
ROP25 Name | Suri |
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: Bench-Maji zone, toward Sudan border; west of Mizan Teferi. 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: Bench-Maji zone, toward Sudan border; west of Mizan Teferi.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 2.40 %) |
4.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
96.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Suri, Tirmaga-Chai (50,000 speakers) |
Language Code | suq Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Suri, Tirmaga-Chai (50,000 speakers) |
Language Code | suq Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Suri, Tirmaga-Chai |
Primary Language: Suri, Tirmaga-Chai
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2004-2023) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | 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 |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Suri, Tirmaga-Chai | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Suri, Tirmaga-Chai | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Rod Waddington - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |