Population: 40,000 Location and Background: The Alagwa live in in a geographically remote area at 4,000-6,000’ elevation in the hills and mountains of central Tanzania. They live in 15 villages, and although the Bubu river runs through the lower lands, the higher regions suffer from lack of water and they often must walk miles to find water to meet the… Read more »
Population: 140,000 Location and Background: The Antakarana, who are originally of mixed Austronesian, African and Arab ancestry, settled in the far north of Madagascar in the 12th c. with the town of Ambatoharanana considered their capital. They are called “People of the White Coral Rocks” as they live in a geographically isolated, rocky place. In the late 18th c they… Read more »
Population: 1.4 million Location and Background: The Sakalava, who are related to the Antakarana, are semi-nomadic pastoralists who also grow some rice, living along the west coast of Madagascar. The island of Antsiranana is a sacred island where their ancestors live, and they believe that any Merina (highland people) who goes there will die. History: Until the start of the… Read more »
Population: 463,000 Background and Location: The Rangi live in Kondoa district in Tanzania, between Dodoma and Arusha. History: Tradition says the Rangi travelled south through Ethiopia and Kenya. As water diviners, they would find a water source, dig a hole, put a gourd in it and leave. The following dry season they returned to it and if it was full… Read more »
Population: 105,000 Location and Background: The Mwani live on a 200 mile long strip of the coast of N. Mozambique; one third of them live in the city of Moçimbao da Praia. Mwani literally means “beach” and life is tied to the ocean. Influenced by sea-faring Arab merchants centuries ago, the culture is defined through fishing and folk Islam. History:… Read more »
Population: 89,000 Location and Background: The Cushitic Gabbra live in the Chalbi desert along the border of Kenya and Ethiopia, keeping livestock such as camels, sheep and goats. The camel is central to their way of life and economy, and they follow weather patterns to move their herds in search of water and pasture. Their mobile houses are made of… Read more »
Population: 15-18 million Location and Background: The Mbororo (“cattle herder” in Fulfulde) are a sub-group of the larger Fulani group that is spread across a horizontal zone from West Africa into central Africa, bound by the Sahara desert to the north and the tsetse fly to the south. They are semi-nomadic, keeping a homestead where they do some farming, as… Read more »
Population: 200,000 Location and Background: Datooga is the name of the large group to which the Barabaig and Taturu belong— there are possibly 16 groups or clans. They were formerly nomadic but now most farm as well as keep animals. Although scattered across Tanzania, their homeland seems to be near the sacred mountain Mt Hanang, which is an important theme… Read more »
Population: 750,000 Location and Background: The Malagasy people, who are a mixed Malayo-Indonesia and African-Arab ancestry, are believed to have migrated to the island between 1500-2100 years ago. The Bara live in the grasslands of south-central Madagascar, and although there are some roads, it is not very accessible by vehicles. History: While traditionally a cattle people, changes are taking place… Read more »
Population: 64,000 Location and Background: The Didinga live in the Didinga hills—in the valleys, on the plateaus and slopes, and on the adjacent plains of the region. Their neighbors include the Boya, Toposa, Dodoth, Dongotono and Lotuka/Lopit. There were tensions in the past but now they are generally on friendly terms and intermarry and speak a similar language to the… Read more »
Population: 30,000 Location and Background: The Kacipo (Suri) live on the Boma plateau with their tribal headquarters at Koma. They live in two villages, Meyun and Rumiit. They are a predominantly sedentary agrarian community, with rich fertile soil which allows them to grow a quantity of crops. History: They believe they originally lived on the banks of the Nile River,… Read more »
Population: 600,000 Location and Background: The Zaramo are a Bantu tribe living on the coastal plains and low hills on the southern coast of Tanzania, in a rural horseshoe around Dar es Salaam. They are subsistence farmers with limited resources, though some live in the city and have urban professions. History: They moved into their present location from the west… Read more »
Population: 6300 Location and Background: The Ik (called “Teuso” by their neighbors) are a small farming and hunting community squeezed between the large, powerful Karamojong and Turkana pastoralist tribes. The Ik have struggled to survive in harsh ecological conditions—droughts and floods. They continue to fight against isolation and marginalization to overcome their difficult circumstances and enter Ugandan national life as… Read more »
Population: 20-30,000 Location and Background: Also known as the Boya or Narim, the Laarim are a Nilotic people living in the Boya Hills. It’s a rugged and hilly terrain with rich savanna, high grasslands and scrub bushes. They live in small settlements, with the main town being Kimatong. History: The Laarim are close relatives of the Didinga, Murle and Tenet…. Read more »
Population: 30-40,000 Location and Background: A sub-tribe of the Lango, the Lokwa are agriculturalists and pastoralists living near the border with Uganda on the slopes of the Imatong massif. The area is mountainous with gentle slops and valleys, good rainfall and fertile soil. Their relationships with the Lotuka is not good due to cattle raiding and occasional feuds. History: The… Read more »
Population: 70-80,000 Location and Background: The Lopit inhabit the Lopit hills in Torit district in S. Sudan. They are eastern Nilotic who practice traditional agriculture as well as rearing livestock on the mountain slopes and in the plains. They also harvest forest products such as honey and shea nuts. History: Very little is known about the origin of the Lopit… Read more »
Population: 105,000 Location and Background: The Ttingo (also called Mamvu) live on the edge of the forest near the Leses & Efe Pygmies with whom they have a close relationship. They are farmers, fishermen and hunters. The area is rich in minerals. History: Long ago, farmers and foragers lived in small communities of extended families in the Ituri forest. In… Read more »
Population: 700,000-1 million Location and Background: One of the largest tribal groups in S. Sudan, the Toposa live in organized villages in an arid, rugged, hilly land with vegetation of shrubs and grass, and seasonal streams. History: The Toposa are part of the Ateker cluster, believing they moved away from the Losolia Mountains in Uganda due to drought. They believe… Read more »
Population: 27,000 in Mozambique Location and Background: Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest countries, still recovering from a long civil war, and climatic extremes of flooding and drought. The Makwe are an ethnic group of Niger/Congo Bantu origin, with about 27,000 living in N. Mozambique and another 10,000 in S. Tanzania. Most people live in villages along the coast…. Read more »
Population: 60,000 Location and Background: The Rendille live in the Kaisut Desert east of Lake Turkana, as semi-nomadic pastoralists. There are two distinctive groups: the northern Rendille, who herd camels, and the southern Rendille who herd cattle as well, and are related to the Samburu with whom they intermarry—Ariaal Rendille live closer to main roads and have more contact with… Read more »
Population: 1.5 million Location and Background: The Nyamwezi tribe (“people of the moon”) is the second largest in Tanzania, living principally south of Lake Victoria in west-central Tanzania. About 30% of Nyamwezi live and work outside of their 35,000 miles of land, in Tanzania’s commercial and agricultural centers. History: It is believed the Nyamwezi and their related tribe the Sukuma… Read more »
Population: 15,000 Location and Background: About 15,000 Asians live in Uganda, most of them involved in business—they are believed to control about 40% of the country’s economy with their involvement in manufacturing, pharmacies, insurance companies, sugar industry, banks, real estate and hotels. History: The Portuguese brought Asian laborers to East Africa in the 16th c to build Fort Jesus in… Read more »
The Samburu, related to the Masaai, have had outreach amongst them for many years. In some areas, the church is growing, other areas they need additional church planting efforts. Please pray for the Samburu and those who live and work amongst them. Learn more at Joshua Project.
The Tenet, living in S. Sudan, continues to need prayer and will benefit from continued discipleship. You can learn more about the Tenet at Joshua Project.
The Dorobo had many years of evangelistic and church planting efforts, resulting in several dozen churches planted and pastors trained. But this group needs continued discipleship and prayer as they grow. You can learn more about them at Joshua Project.
Work amongst the Mundu has progressed over the past years, with incredible progress in translation. We are grateful for all of the past, present and future prayers for the Mundu people of DR Congo. Learn more at Joshua Project.
This northern people have seen a movement of turning to God over the past several years, so that they are no longer considered “unreached”–but keep praying for them. You can learn more at Josuha Project.
The Sandawe have been moved off of the “unreached” people group list as we have seen God work amongst them for many years. But they still need our prayers. You can learn more about the Sandawe at various websites such as Joshua Project.
Many people have been praying for the Borana for many years. They are now no longer considered “unreached” although they still need our prayers! You can find out more about them at various websites such as wikipedia, Joshua Project,
Many people have been praying for the Aringa for many years. In 2011, they were considered no longer “unreached” but still in need of prayers as they are still needing a Christian witness and work among them. There are several websites where you can learn more about the Aringa, or see where they’re at in translation progress at The Task… Read more »