Fon in Canada
Photo Source:
Brian Kelley - Flickr
Creative Commons
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Send Joshua Project a map of this people group.
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| People Name: | Fon |
| Country: | Canada |
| 10/40 Window: | No |
| Population: | 1,400 |
| World Population: | 2,399,400 |
| Primary Language: | Fon |
| Primary Religion: | Christianity |
| Christian Adherents: | 62.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 15.50 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | Guinean |
| Affinity Bloc: | Sub-Saharan Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Fon are a large people group. Their ancestors were with the 17th century Dahomey kingdom. Today the Fon are related to the Aja people, whom they broke away from during a dispute regarding the secession of a king.
In the 1700s the slave trade was prominent in the parts of West Africa where the Fon live. They were both victims and victimizers. Some Fon people were captured and enslaved while others did the same to other tribes.
Starting in the 1800s, France had extensive colonial holdings in much of West Africa. Those areas included places where the Fon people lived.
Most live in Benin, but they also live in Gabon, Ghana and Togo. Some have migrated to France or Canada.
What Are Their Lives Like?
In deciding which immigrants to admit from developing countries, Canada has favored those with a good education and professional skills. Though they usually live a more prosperous life than they did in West Africa, Fon and other Africans tend to be more likely to be unemployed and to have lower incomes than native Canadians.
Africans must adjust to many changes in Canada. Personal relationships are different. Many of them must adjust to having a spouse in a different continent and living with a different set of social expectations. Africans assume that the group rises or falls together, but in the West, they must adjust to an individualistic culture. Overall, these Africans are highly committed to Canada as a nation.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Officially the Fon people are Christian. Like other Christians in West Africa, their version of Christianity is often clouded by animistic practices that place their faith in something lower than Jesus Christ.
What Are Their Needs?
Most of the Fon people in Canada are officially Christian. They need disciplers to strengthen them in following Jesus with all their hearts and minds.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord to thrust out Holy Spirit anointed disciplers among the Fon people.
Pray for a powerful disciple making movement among every Fon community in Africa and the West.
Pray for Fon Bibles to find their way into every Fon family in Canada.