Chokobo in Nigeria

People Name:	Chokobo
Country:	Nigeria
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	2,500
World Population:	2,500
Primary Language:	Izora
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	5.00 %
Evangelicals:	3.00 %
Scripture:	Unspecified
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Benue
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Chokobo people live in rural north-central Nigeria. Gospel recordings are available in their language of the Chokobo. Linguists need to do a survey to determine whether a written script exists for Chokobo and whether a Bible translation is necessary. The Chokobo is an endangered language with many of the young Chokobo preferring to speak Hausa and English, languages that they learn in schools.

Where Are they Located?

The Chokobo people are found in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, north-central, Nigeria. They occupy a strategic geographical location that opens to the northwest and northeast of Nigeria. They are related to the nearby Amo people.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Chokobo retain their cultural identity and language but live in very close relationship with other peoples of north-central Nigeria. They are an agricultural people who live in villages surrounded by the farmlands. They grow rice, yams, maize, millet, beans, vegetables, and melons. Most Chokobo families also raise goats and cattle for their meat, milk and hides. Chickens furnish the village with eggs and meat.

They enjoy music, story telling and dance as a form of entertainment and communication. These art forms are very meaningful in rural Nigeria. Those who want to take the gospel to the Chokobo people should find ways to communicate using these art forms.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Chokobo people are reached but some adhere to ethnic religions. They depend on the spirit world for their daily needs. They appease spirits, which they believe inhabit the objects of nature such as animals, trees, rivers, rocks and the sky. The often use charms and amulets to help them deal with evil spirits. About one fifth of the Chokobo claim to be Muslims. Their Islam is heavily influenced by folk religion. The Chokobo live in fear of evil spirits which they believe can bring disaster upon the community.

What Are Their Needs?

The Chokobo people need abundant rain for their crops and their livestock so they can live lives free of want and poverty. They need modern medical care and good schools that will help the next generation to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Solar panels can bring electricity to rural villages.

The Chokobo people need the blessings of Jesus Christ, who has conquered death. He alone can give them abundant life and the forgiveness of their sins.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Chokobo people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Chokobo families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for the Chokobo culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a disciple making movement among the Chokobo people.
Pray for Chokobo families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness through Christ alone, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.