The Yao people once sold slaves, ivory, tobacco, and cloth. Arab Muslim traders from coastal East Africa supplied them with firearms so they could raid neighboring tribes and take captives for the lucrative slave trade. When the British imperialists began to invade Yao lands, they stopped the Yao from their slave raids because of pressure from missionaries. This made the Yao people more entrenched in the religion of the Muslims they traded with. As Yao chiefs became Muslim, the common people did as well. Today the Yao have a Muslim majority.
The Yao people once lived on a mountain called Yao, where they were given their name. They later moved to Lake Malawi. Most Yao people live in Malawi or Mozambique, but a smaller number live in other African countries including Tanzania.
Today most are subsistence farmers or fishermen on the shores of Lake Malawi. Others are traders and traveling businessmen. Their main language is Yao also called Chiyao. One- fourth are pre-literate.
The heart of Yao life is the village with 75 to 100 people. The village chief has a lot of power, though they are a matriarchal society where descent comes from the mother's line.
Islamic religious system. However, they also practice pre-Islamic rituals which involve witchcraft and ancestor cults. In recent years there has been a move among the Yao people towards more orthodox Islam, but they are also more receptive to the gospel.
The Yao people need regular contact with people who will live lives made victorious in Jesus Christ.
* Scripture Prayers for the Yao, Muslim in Tanzania.
* Pray that Yao chiefs will turn their hearts to Jesus, and encourage others to do the same.
* Pray that efforts to train Yao believers to reach others will result in a strong church planting movement.
* Pray for new harvesters who will joyfully live among the Yao people, serve, them, and help them to see what a Holy Spirit transformed life can do for a community.
* Pray that the Lord will raise up many who will use the Chiyao Bible as a foundation to produce radio broadcasts, gospel recordings, and culturally-appropriate worship music.
Profiles written by Global Prayer Digest
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/15988/TZ
http://www.sim.org/index.php/content/yao
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Yao-African-people
http://www.uscwm.info/op1040/pdfs/137.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yao_people_(East_Africa)
http://www.niassatourism.com/yao-people-61.html
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-01-10 |
People Name General | Yao, Muslim |
People Name in Country | Yao, Muslim |
Natural Name | Muslim Yao |
Population this Country | 614,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,815,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 12 |
Alternate Names | Ajawa; Ayao; Chiyao; Wajao |
People ID | 15988 |
ROP3 Code | 110980 |
Country | Tanzania | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Ruvuma region: Tunduru district, east of Lake Malawi; Lindi region; possibly Mtwara region; Mozambique border area; possibly in Zimbabwe. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Tanzania |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Ruvuma region: Tunduru district, east of Lake Malawi; Lindi region; possibly Mtwara region; Mozambique border area; possibly in Zimbabwe.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Language | Yao (614,000 speakers) |
Language Code | yao Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Yao (614,000 speakers) |
Language Code | yao Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Yao |
Primary Language: Yao
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1880-2008) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1898-1994) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2014) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Yao |
Film / Video | King of Glory movie |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Yao |
Text / Printed Matter | EasyBibles |
Text / Printed Matter | EasyBibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Online Bible text (Scripture Earth) |
Text / Printed Matter | World Missionary Press Booklets |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 1.20 %) |
2.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
5.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
93.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
70.0 %
|
Independent |
0.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
10.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
20.0 %
|
Photo Source | The I Am Yawo Project |
Map Source | People Group Location from IMB. Other map data / geography from GMI. Map by Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |