Mabo-Barkul, Kaleri in Nigeria

Introduction / History

The Mabo-Barkul people culturally identify with a much larger people group called Kulere. Many of the Mabo-Barkul people speak Kulere, as well as their own traditional language of Bo-Rukul.

Within their own language, there are two distinct dialects, Bo and Rukul. Each dialect accounts for about half the population of the Mabo-Barkul people.

The Mabo-Barkul people also speak Hausa and English, the two dominant languages of Nigeria. Around half the young people can read Hausa haltingly. It is not known how well they comprehend what they are reading.

The Mabo-Barkul people live in the villages of Barkul, Mabo, Mwa, and Richa in Bokkos LGA (Local Government Area) in Plateau State, Nigeria. Their villages lie east of Nigeria’s capital city, Abjua.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Agriculture is the main occupation of the Mabo-Barkul people. They raise cattle and other livestock and grow crops, including cotton, ground nuts, millet, tomatoes, and yams. The government has introduced advanced irrigation schemes to increase production. Some may work in tourism as Plateau State is described as “The Home of Peace and Tourism.”

The people still practice many aspects of their traditional way of live. The man, as the head of the family, has the duty of providing for his family. The wife takes care of the home. The payment of a bride price seals the marriage of the bride to the groom.

What Are Their Beliefs?

African Traditional Religion remains strong among the Mabo-Barkul people. Animism is a big part of this religious worldview, which includes the belief that natural physical entities such as animals, plants, and even inanimate objects possess a spiritual essence. Some of this people group identify as Christians.

What Are Their Needs?

The Mabo-Barkul people face many challenges. Their heavy reliance on farming for income makes them vulnerable to the conditions that affect their harvests, including drought, pests and even Fulani raiders, who typically target non-Muslim rural communities.

Surrounded by larger people groups, and particularly that of the Kulere, it is difficult for the Mabo-Barkul to pass on their language to their children. Community leaders may be interested in language development to preserve their language. Workshops are available that that would expose participants to language vitality and potential short-term development projects.

Mabo-Barkul believers need God’s word in a language that they can understand. Audio compilations of Christian songs are available at globalrecordings.net under the name Barukul. But this is all that they currently have – unless they can understand the Scriptures in English or Hausa. How can they grow in their knowledge of God and in their faith without being nourished by God’s promises and by the example and teachings of Jesus Christ? How can they share the Good News with their community and make disciples if the Scriptures are in a foreign language?

Bo-Rukul is considered an endangered language as the number of children using it as their first language is decreasing and it is not taught in schools. Survey work needs to be conducted to assess the multilingualism of the Mabo-Barkul people and in what domains Bo-Rukul, English, Hausa, and neighboring languages are being used. Community leaders may be interested in further language development to preserve their language. Workshops are available that would expose participants to language vitality and potential short-term development and translation projects.

Prayer Points

Pray that God protects this people from Fulani raiders and any other aggressors. Pray that God blesses them with abundant harvests, with wisdom to invest well and with their other material needs.
Pray that Mabo-Barkul Christians will access the Christian songs that are available online and be blessed. Pray that these songs might attract others to Christ.
Pray that they embrace and pass on whatever Scripture that is available to them, for example some may speak Hausa or English and can translate for their communities. Pray that the Holy Spirit gives them understanding despite any language barriers, leading them into all truth.
Pray that all who follow Christ will be channels of God’s eternal blessing and love to their own people and to other people groups. May they be full of God’s Spirit of love, boldness and wisdom.
Pray for those who don’t yet follow Jesus, that God’s Spirit will gently but firmly remove the veil that keeps them from acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord.
Pray a survey can be conducted to help assess the vitality of the language and assist community leaders in deciding if they wish to pursue language development.
Pray Bo-Rukul speakers will engage with Scripture that is available in other languages and assess their level of understanding of those Scriptures to determine their translation needs.

Text Source:   Joshua Project