Efai in Nigeria
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| People Name: | Efai |
| Country: | Nigeria |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 12,000 |
| World Population: | 13,200 |
| Primary Language: | Efai |
| Primary Religion: | Christianity |
| Christian Adherents: | 94.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 6.00 % |
| Scripture: | Translation Needed |
| Ministry Resources: | No |
| Jesus Film: | No |
| Audio Recordings: | No |
| People Cluster: | Benue |
| Affinity Bloc: | Sub-Saharan Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Efai are a small people group, but they retain much of their culture, including their language. Their language is unwritten but is the preferred language of all generations.
The Efai live in the southeast corner of Nigeria, alongside the coast and very close to the border of Cameroon. A smaller population is also based in Cameroon, well inland from the coast.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The Efai are subsistence farmers, growing yams, rice, cowpeas, maize and cassava. Oil palms and cocoa are their cash crops. They also raise poultry, pigs, sheep, goats and rabbits. Those living along the Nigerian coast catch shrimp and deep-sea fish. Some may also be employed in mining lignite (coal) or offshore oil fields as these are common occupations for people living their state of Akwa Ibom.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The vast majority of the Efai people identify as Christian. Some are evangelical.
What Are Their Needs?
Efai is used as a first language by all in the community, but there are no Efai Scriptures. The language itself remains unwritten. Community leaders, who may be interested in language development to preserve their language, can attend available workshops that expose participants to language vitality and potential short-term development and translation projects.
Prayer Points
Bless the Efai people from Numbers 6.24-26. Bless their Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, their communities in Nigeria and Cameroon, their homes and their hearts.
Pray that they receive God’s word in a language that they understand well.
Pray Efai people will access the Bible stories available online or in other languages to grow in their Christian faith.
Pray that the Efai listen and obey God’s word, so that they might be blessed (Luke 11:28).
Pray Efai community leaders and church leaders seek and find assistance to assess their language vitality and determine their language development and translation needs.
Pray that translation of the Efai Bible starts and enables the Efai to grow in their knowledge of God and develop a more intimate relationship with him.