Swahili in Australia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Thousands of years ago, groups of hunters inhabited the East African coast and intermarried with Cushite shepherds. By the second century, Bantu-speaking people from northern Congo came to the area and intermarried with them. Subsequent groups of people migrating from other areas such as the Persian Gulf also joined these coastal people, adopting parts of their culture and language. Later, Indonesian, Hindi, and Portuguese traders settled on the coast. Soon, they too began adopting Swahili traits and became a part of the larger group. Since that time, groups of Swahili have migrated to different parts of the coast, forming their own dialects and cultural variations. The name Swahili literally means "coast," and is the name for various people groups that share a common culture (Uswahili), language (Kiswahili), and religion (Islam).


Where Are they Located?

Today, the Swahili are scattered along Eastern Africa and the Persian Gulf, from Saudi Arabia to Zambia. A small number have migrated to other parts of the world like Europe, New Zealand and Australia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Since the Swahili are predominantly Muslim, Islamic practices play a large role in their daily activities. Dietary laws, rules of dress, social etiquette, marriage ceremonies, laws concerning divorce, and rituals at birth and death are all governed by Islamic tradition. Parents strive to have well-mannered, respectful children, since this is highly valued among East African Muslims. Boys go to Islamic schools where they study the Koran.


Islam is deeply ingrained in the worldview of the Swahili people. It will be difficult for them to accept other foundational answers to spiritual questions, such as salvation by Jesus Christ, not by human effort.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Though they are Sunni Muslim, they still practice many traditional pre-Islamic beliefs. For example, they believe in the existence of many good and evil spirits, so they act accordingly. They also believe in the supernatural power of witches and sorcerers. Most believe that Allah is too distant to protect them from the spirit world.


What Are Their Needs?

The small number of Swahili people in Australia need the spiritual hunger to seek and find the only Savior.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and intercession. Pray for spiritual hunger among the Swahili people in Australia. Ask God to raise up Christian businessmen in Australia who will boldly share Christ with the Swahili. Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Swahili in Australia and beyond.


Scripture Prayers for the Swahili in Australia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Swahili
People Name in Country Swahili
Pronunciation swa-HEE-lee
Alternate Names African Black; Arab-Swahili; Bantu; Baraawe; Barwaani; Black African; Central Swahili; Coastal; Coastal Swahili; Mrima; Shirazi; Siddi; Swahili Shamba; Urban; Zanzibari
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 1,183,000
Total Countries 25
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15145
ROP3 Code 109644
ROP25 Code 307782
ROP25 Name Swahili
Country Australia
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Australia
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.60 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
97.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Swahili (12,000 speakers)
Language Code swh   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Swahili (12,000 speakers)
Language Code swh   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Swahili

Primary Language:  Swahili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1868-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1879-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1890-2017)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
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
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Swahili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Photo Source Luciano Rizzello - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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