Ngumbi in Equatorial Guinea

People Name:	Ngumbi
Country:	Equatorial Guinea
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	16,000
World Population:	16,000
Primary Language:	Kombe
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	97.00 %
Evangelicals:	8.00 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Ministry Resources:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	No
People Cluster:	Bantu, Northwest
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Kombe people live primarily on the coast of Equatorial Guinea along an 80 km stretch, from the city of Bata in the north to the city of Mbini in the south. They are peaceful fishers and hunter-gatherers. Historically, the Kombe are one of the 18 Ndowe tribal groups. Ndowe means: we united. They all live along the coast of EG and also along the coasts of Cameroon and Gabon.

Their language is one of at least 16 Bantu languages in the Bongwe cluster. Possibly as a result of the prominence of the Kombe in favorable relationship with colonial powers, the name Kombe is often used in modern times to group up to ten of the less prominent Ndowe people groups. The language shift among these groups seems to be towards a more united Kombe language. ( Names of these groups are: Asonga, Bomudi, Yandye, Moganda, Bole, Ndama, Mooma, Bobenda, Mapanga, and Kombe.

As a result of the Spanish colonization, the large majority of the Kombe are nominally Roman Catholic. But few have personally accepted the Gospel. The New Testament was translated in the mid 1900s and last published in 1975. There is a possible need for revision, as well as for educators (literacy and general), Church planting and evangelism. There are no full time missionaries among the Kombe people (1996)