Yakamul in Papua New Guinea

People Name:	Yakamul
Country:	Papua New Guinea
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	6,400
World Population:	6,400
Primary Language:	Kap
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	95.00 %
Evangelicals:	20.00 %
Scripture:	Translation Needed
Ministry Resources:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	New Guinea
Affinity Bloc:	Pacific Islanders
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Kap speakers live in the Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea. Two villages are located on the coast and speakers also live on three small islands about 7 kilometers from the mainland.

Sago is a major food in the area. People mix sago with boiling water to make a jelly like substance which they eat. People in the mainland villages harvest sago both for their own consumption and to sell at market. They also have gardens where they grow fruit and vegetables, most of which they eat themselves. People on the islands are short of land and only have small gardens. They are fishermen, catching fish on the reefs next to their islands. To get other food they either sell or trade the fish they catch. For half of the year, when the seas are rough, it is difficult and dangerous for them to travel to the mainland to sell or trade their fish. The island people regularly face hunger because of this. Many church leaders on the islands requested prayer about this shortage of food.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The area was first evangelized by the Catholic church in the 1890s. Other denominations began churches in the area from the 1960s onwards. There are now many different denominations with churches in the area. However, many people are Christian in name only. Several church leaders felt there was a need for people to repent and change their lives.

The Kap language is becoming less widely spoken as people are shifting to speaking Tok Pisin, a trade language. Most children do not speak Kap.