Nekgini in Papua New Guinea

People Name:	Nekgini
Country:	Papua New Guinea
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	1,300
World Population:	1,300
Primary Language:	Nekgini
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	95.00 %
Evangelicals:	26.00 %
Scripture:	Translation Started
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	No
People Cluster:	New Guinea
Affinity Bloc:	Pacific Islanders
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Nekgini people live in four villages located in the eastern part of Madang Province, about 20 kilometres to the west of Saidor and within 10 kilometres of the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. Many Yabong villages are in the foothills of the Finisterre Mountains.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Their diet consists primarily of sweet potatoes, taro and greens. Houses are made with black palm floors and woven bamboo walls. Roofs are thatched with dried sago palm leaves. Houses are set on posts 2-3 meters above the ground. Most Nekgini people wear western-style clothing, but many women wear a long piece of cloth tied around their waist.

Students are taught to read in Nekgini in the vernacular preschools and in English in primary school.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Catholic and Lutheran missionaries from Germany, Samoa and the United States came to the area surrounding Nekgini in the 1930s and began planting churches. There are currently both Lutheran and Catholic churches in the Nekgini area.

What Are Their Needs?

The Nekgini people do not have the Bible in their mother tongue. During church services the Bible is read in Tok Pisin, the language of wider communication.