Baggara, Shuwa Arab in United States

Introduction / History

The Shuwa Arabs are commonly referred to as the "Baggara." This name is derived from the Arabic word bagar, meaning "cow," and refers to the Arab tribes in West Africa who are cattle herders. They live in a hot, semi-arid climate with zones ranging from sparse shrub lands to wooded grasslands. They are spread from the Lake Chad region eastward to the Nile River in the countries of Sudan, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic. A small number have made their way to Western nations like the United States.
The Baggara tribes are of Arab descent and mainly speak the Shuwa dialect of the Arabic language. They entered western Sudan between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and have gradually moved east and west from there. By the eighteenth century, they were concentrated primarily to the north and east of Lake Chad. Their tribes continued moving eastward until they became widely scattered across the horizontal plains of West Africa. They have intermarried with the tribes who lived close to them. This mixture of blood has given the Baggara a look which combines those of Arabs and sub-Saharan Africans.

What Are Their Lives Like?

In the United States, the Shuwa Arabs are often learning to deal with the trauma of violence and war that they faced in Sudan. Though the Baggara are often the perpetrators of violence against settled farmers, many are also victims of violence; for this reason, some have been given refugee status in the West. The number of African refugees in the US began to increase in the early 1990s.
As a rule, those allowed into the United States are well educated people with marketable skills. However, like most immigrant groups, even those with doctorates in the old country are forced into low paying work because of their lack of language skills. Those who have mastered English language skills can usually continue their professions in the US. Commonly, African immigrants send money back to family members in their original homeland.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Baggara have been Muslims since the thirteenth century. They bury their dead facing Mecca, the "holy city" of Islam. Most likely, those who live in the US attend mosques with other Muslim ethnic groups.

What Are Their Needs?

Shuwa Arabs in the US need the chance to learn conversational English. Followers of Christ can help them with that if they are willing to focus on unreached people groups here rather than going overseas on short term mission trips that produce questionable results. Believers reaching out to new immigrants can lead many to considering the claims of Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to speak directly to Shuwa Arabs through dreams.
Pray for a spiritual hunger among them that will result in hearing the gospel with open hearts and minds.
Pray for the Lord to direct his children into faithful ministry to Shuwa Arabs in the West.
Pray for a movement to Christ among Shuwa Arabs in the United States.

Text Source:   Joshua Project