Lohiki, Obi in Papua New Guinea

Introduction / History

The Obi Lohiki people group is associated with Gulf Province in southern Papua New Guinea, in the difficult river-and-forest country of the Gulf region. They belong to a part of Papua New Guinea where small communities have long been shaped by isolation, waterways, swampy terrain, and strong local kinship ties. Their language is Akoye, which is also known as Lohiki.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Obi Lohiki live in a remote lowland environment where daily life is commonly organized around rivers, creeks, forest, and wet ground rather than roads. In this kind of Gulf Province setting, communities often depend on sago processing, fishing, small garden plots, hunting, and gathering from surrounding forest and swamp areas. Travel is often by canoe or small boat where waterways allow, while overland movement can be difficult. Homes are typically simple village houses built from local materials suited to humid tropical conditions. Family and clan relationships are central, and ordinary life is usually shaped by shared labor, subsistence work, and village cooperation. Their language in ordinary life is Akoye, also known as Lohiki.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Obi Lohiki are identified primarily as Christian, though traditional ethnic religious influence may remain. Scripture is available in their language.

What Are Their Needs?

The Obi Lohiki need spiritual depth so that Christian identity is matched by genuine repentance, biblical conviction, and obedience to Christ. Where there is a strong Christian base, the need is for healthy churches, faithful shepherds, sound teaching, and families that live out the gospel clearly. They need protection from nominal Christianity, compromise, and any lingering attachment to older spiritual loyalties. They also need renewed zeal to carry the gospel beyond their own community and to serve other ethnic groups with faithful witness.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Obi Lohiki would grow in genuine repentance, biblical clarity, and joyful obedience to Jesus Christ.
Pray that pastors, elders, and other local leaders would teach Scripture faithfully and lead with humility and courage.
Pray that any remaining attachment to older spiritual practices would be fully surrendered to the lordship of Christ.
Pray for strong Christian families, healthy churches, and enduring discipleship among the Obi Lohiki.
Pray that the Obi Lohiki would actively reach out to other ethnic groups with the gospel and become a faithful witness beyond their own community.

Text Source:   Joshua Project