Introduction / History

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.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of Marenje are Roman Catholic since there is a large Catholic mission there that started in the 1940s.