The Marenje are mainly an agricultural people. Since they live near the border to Malawi, where produce brings a good price, they take their goods there by bicycle.
Many of the Marenje first heard the gospel when they were refugees in Malawi during the war in Mozambique (1980s). There are many small churches, but because of lack of literacy and pastors or others who themselves are mature disciples there is little depth.
The language is under severe stress. Fewer and fewer children are learning it, the people preferring Chichewa (Nyanja) or to a much lesser extent Portuguese. With no literature in the language, there are no known churches tthat use Marenje in their services. Most use Chichewa. Milange and Tengua is the Marenje heartland, but since this area is close to the border with Malawi and the fact most fled to Malawi during the long civil war Chichewa has greater value and the churches use Chichewa or Portuguese so as to not exclude anyone.
The vast majority of Marenje are Roman Catholic since there is a large Catholic mission there that started in the 1940s.
Scripture Prayers for the Marenje in Mozambique.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
Expanded PDF Profile |
People Name General | Marenje |
People Name in Country | Marenje |
Population this Country | 650,000 |
Population all Countries | 650,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 4 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 4 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
Alternate Names | Marendje |
People ID | 19026 |
ROP3 Code | 106322 |
Country | Mozambique | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 32 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Zambezia province. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Mozambique |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 32 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Zambezia province.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 4.00 %) |
85.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
15.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Marenje (650,000 speakers) |
Language Code | vmr Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Marenje (650,000 speakers) |
Language Code | vmr Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Marenje |
Primary Language: Marenje
Bible Translation Status: Translation Needed
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
None reported |