Argobba in Ethiopia

People Name:	Argobba
Country:	Ethiopia
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	226,000
World Population:	226,000
Primary Language:	Argobba
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	4.60 %
Evangelicals:	1.40 %
Scripture:	Unspecified
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	No
People Cluster:	Ethio-Semitic
Affinity Bloc:	Horn of Africa Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Argobba are one of the Semitic-speaking peoples, and their language is part of the south Semitic group of languages. Argobba is a name used for both the ethnic group and the language. The Argobba people fled central Ethiopia to avoid forcible conversion to Christianity.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They settled in well-watered and hilly areas which they cleared for cultivation. Once settled, they engaged in agriculture and weaving. They still engage in agriculture, weaving or commerce. Those who are merchants are noted for their shrewdness.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Argobba people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will. In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

Charms and amulets tie them to unclean spirits. They need to become children of the Lord and depend exclusively on Jesus Christ, the one who offers life to the full.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to give the Argobba people a sense of spiritual need. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Argobba people in Ethiopia. Pray for the Lord to demonstrate his love and power by providing for Arbore families. Pray for Argobba disciple to make more disciples.