Comorian, Mwali in Reunion

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People Name: Comorian, Mwali
Country: Reunion
10/40 Window: No
Population: 700
World Population: 44,700
Primary Language: Comorian, Mwali
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 0.11 %
Evangelicals: 0.01 %
Scripture: Unspecified
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: Bantu, Swahili
Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Comorians live on a group of islands in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique, Africa. The Comoro chain consists of four main islands plus several smaller ones. Mwali, AKA Moheli, is one of the four larger islands. Each island has their own language. The different Comorian groups take their name from the particular island on which they live. Thus, we have the Mwali Comorians. Mwali Comorian communities can be found on Mwali Island as well as in Madagascar. Some have migrated further east to the island of Reunion.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Mwali islanders work as farmers or fishermen, while a few raise cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. A small number work in industry or in jobs relating to tourism. The basic diet of Mwali Comorians consists of rice, potatoes, corn, fish, coconut, and bananas. They also grow sweet potatoes, citrus fruits and pineapples.
Although young people wear Western style clothing, traditional clothing is still common among older adults. Polygamy is an acceptable practice among Comorians. Children are expected to help with the farming, fishing and caring of the animals. For recreation, Comorians enjoy dancing, singing, and playing instruments, especially horns and drums.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Mwali Comorians in Reunion are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, common people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well they live on a daily basis. For that reason, some Muslims appease spirits using charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces. More orthodox Muslims consider these practices heretical and un-Islamic.

What Are Their Needs?

The Mwali Comorian people in Reunion need to be given the chance to hear the life-changing gospel so they can enjoy life to the full.

Prayer Points

Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Mwali Comorian people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Mwali Comorian families so the gospel will spread rapidly.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Mwali Comorian people to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project