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 needs of their families.

History: The Alagwa are a Cushitic group, who migrated south from the horn of Africa. They believe they are descended from Habesh, who was the 10th generation from Noah’s son Ham, and are still living with the curse put on their ancestor.

Culture: The Alagwa are subsistence farmers, growing maize and millet. They also keep cows, goats and sheep. They are very community oriented, living in houses made of burned brick with roofs of thatched grass. The Alagwa speak both Alagwaisa and Kiswahili.

Religion: A tribal legend says that once when some Alagwa visited Mecca they were rejected by the Muslims for having ‘no religion’—only animistic beliefs. They later embraced Islam, so that now well over 90% are Muslims. However, they seamlessly blend their traditional beliefs with their Islamic ones. Allah, Mungu and Lala’a are all used to refer to God. So although they are called Muslims, their beliefs and practices are strongly steeped in their traditional ways of life.

Population: 2 million

Location: Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia

History: Believed to have immigrated from Ethiopia in the 10th century.

Culture: The Borana are Cushitic people, related to the Gabbra, Sakuye, and Rendille. They are nomadic pastoralists, herding cattle, sheep, goats, and some camels. They women on the Ethiopian side elaborately braid their hair.

Religion: Mostly Animism and Islam. Christianity is growing.

The Borana Christians of Northern Kenya are fulfilling the Great Commission. They are evangelizing their own people…making disciples…building up one another in the faith…giving sacrificially.

Jesus is building his church among the Borana. The Borana Christians of Northern Kenya are fulfilling the Great Commission. They are evangelizing their own people…making disciples…building up one another in the faith…giving sacrificially. Trained Borana Pastors are leading the churches and others are being trained to help in the ministry for the next generation. They are also helping with evangelism and Bible teaching among the Borana Christians of Ethiopia. The Lord IS building HIS church and the gates of hell shall not, cannot, will not over power it.

You can find out more about them at various websites such as wikipedia, Joshua Project,

Pray for the Datooga of Central Tanzania. They are a large group of former nomads, who have now settled and farm and keep animals. They are proud of their culture and see no reason to change. Few children go to school and illiteracy is common. The Datooga are animists, and communicate with their ancestors through the spirits.

Pray the Datooga would see that, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, they do not know what makes them stumble.” Proverbs 4:18-19

There are Datooga believers and some have gone to Bible school. Pray they would be strong in the Lord and anointed evangelists. There are Bible stories being translated and shared. Pray this will bear much fruit. Ask the Lord to continue to build His church among the Datooga.

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 in their songs and myths.

History: The Datooga are highland Nilotics who it is thought came down from southern Sudan or Ethiopia about 3000 years ago. About 1500 years ago they split into two groups—the Kalenjin who stayed in Kenya, and the Datooga who continued south to Tanzania.

Culture: Cattle are by far their most important animal though they also keep goats, sheep, donkeys and chickens. They also now grow maize, millet, and beans. They live simply, and everyone who is not a Datooga is a “mswahili” (other people). They are a proud people and see no reason to change. The Datooga have distinctive body markings, whether scars or burn markings or elongated ear lobes. They love wearing beads. Polygamy is widely accepted where wives are ranked in order of marriage, and women are required to work tirelessly for the  family. School attendance is sporadic amongst the children and illiteracy common

Religion: The Datooga respect and fear their ancestors, and communicate with them through the spirits, so witchcraft and sorcery is rampant. They believe in a distant creator God named Aseeta who has twin sons who will come to rule and judge the world some day. The Datooga will be recognized by their distinctive dress and jewelry and will then be taken to heaven. They have many rituals, including worshipping at a special tree, or going to the mountains to call on the ancestors. Burial rituals can last for weeks or even months where they slaughter cows and consume alcohol and erect shelters for the dead.

Learn more about the Datooga at Joshua Project or about Tanzania at Operation World.

Population: 500,000

Location: SE Kenya and NE Tanzania

History: The Digo moved to their current location 1000 years ago. Historians disagree as to whether they migrated from Somalia or from Southern Africa. Originally they settled deep within sacred forests in order to worship ancestral spirits and to be safe from warring tribes. Islamic traders visited the coast of Africa as early as the 10th century and had contact with the Digo. The Portuguese explorers came in the 16th century. Many Digo converted to Islam in the 1920s.

Culture: The Digo are Bantu people. They are fishermen, farmers, basket weavers and potters.

Religion: Folk Islam and animism

Scripture: “Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land.” Micah 7:14. Pray the Dorobo would come under the protection of the Good Shepherd and be shepherded by godly Dorobo pastors.

Population: 67,000

Location: The Dorobo live mostly in the Rift Valley in the highland forests and mountainous areas.

History: The Dorobo are not actually a single people group, but a diverse group of peoples descended from the ancient San people who originally settled in the Rift Valley around 1000 AD and lived as hunter-gatherers. The name ‘Dorobo’ comes from the Maasai word Il-torrobo for ‘the ones without cattle.’ In Kenya they are also known as the Okiek, and they are considered a pioneering group of Kalenjin who first moved to the Rift Valley from the north.

Culture: Many Dorobo have been assimilated into the cultures of neighboring tribes, such as the Maasai, Samburu, Kipsigis and Nandi. They often provided a service doing jobs considered unclean by the dominant neighbors. Many are still hunter-gatherers. They are adaptable to their environment, and often make their living through beekeeping, especially where hunting has been banned.

Religion: Animism. Perhaps 1% are evangelical Christian. There are at least 25 churches among the Dorobo with over 20 trained pastors.

The Gabbra live in the Chalbi desert in Kenya close to the border with Ethiopia. They raise camels and other livestock. They are semi-nomadic. The Gabbra believe in a benevolent God (Waaqa) who gives rain as he pleases. Animal sacrifices and ritual prayers are part of their religious practices. They believe in “merciless” justice, where grace is unknown and wrongs are righted by payment. Islam is growing in the area by building mosques in each town and promising education and finances.

Pray that the Gabbra would cry out: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalms 63:1

Workers continue to distribute Treasures (small mp3 players, with a solar panel on the back) among the Gabbra. The Treasure is an effective tool for reaching Gabbra. The herdsmen especially enjoy listening to the Bible while they watch their animals. Pray for those listening to the Bible, that they may hear and see the truth of Jesus and come to find him as their Savior.

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 sticks, woven mats, skins and cloth, so they can easily move it all on 2-3 camels, while the woman, children, and elderly remain in semi-permanent shelters.

History:   The Gabbra escaped from Ethiopia around 1900 to avoid conscription into Menlik’s army. Traditionally they moved freely across the border, but life is now more difficult as there is less grazing land available (which is semi-arid), and there are more people and bigger herds. Drought always poses a risk.

Culture:   The camel is at the center of their culture and economy, using it for meat and milk as well as transportation. They build their homes, fencing and household items out of palms, grasses, trees and other local materials which can be carried on camels. Moving camp is all considered “women’s work”. Their proverb “a poor man shames us all” explains why their  mutual support for survival as nomads compels them to allow no Gabbra to go hungry, be without animals, or be refused hospitality or assistance.

Religion:   The Gabbra believe in a benevolent God (Waaqa) who gives rain as he pleases. Animal sacrifices and ritual prayers are part of their religious practices. They believe in “merciless” justice, where grace is unknown and wrongs are righted by payment. Forgiveness is possible, but the penalty must be paid. Ancestors are honored, and may rituals are performed with fear of incorrect practices. “Ayana” worship—the worship of Satan and his angels—is a practice increasing among the Gabbra, with the center of worship being at Dabel. The “Yaa” is the high court in each clan, choosing leaders and overseeing all spiritual aspects of the community. Islam is increasing by building mosques in each town and promising education and finances.

Learn more about the Gabbra at Joshua Project or about Kenya at Operation World.

Population: 183,000

Location and Background: South Eastern Tanzania.The M live on the South-eastern coastal delta area between the Rufuji River and Kilwa and from the Indian Ocean to the M Hills.

History: The M believe they have been in their present area for about 700-800 years. Before that they reportedly made their way northeast from what is now Malawi. They came under the influence of Muslim traders and many converted to Islam. German colonists arrived in Tanganyika in 1885, and forced many to be slaves. In 1905-1906 the M staged a major rebellion against the German colonial rulers, called the Maji-Mai Rebellion. The Germans eventually put down the rebellion in 1907, at a great loss of life among the African tribal peoples. After the Germans lost World War I, the British colonized Tanzania. With the coming of independence, the first President, Julius Nyerere, strongly emphasized that Tanzania was a unified country. All peoples were to learn and speak Kiswahili with the use of tribal languages discouraged and today, Kiswahili is widely spoken among the M people.

Culture: They are of Bantu origin, closely related to the Ndengereko and Rufiji. They are described as having an independent spirit and are proud and honest. Many M are forest dwellers. They use herbal remedies and have knowledge of about 200 medicinal native plants. Most M people live in small villages, doing subsistence farming and agriculture. Some are fishermen along the Rufiji River. Others own small shops along the main highway. Most build huts of pole and stick frame with mud wattle for the walls. Roofs are made of thatched palm leaf. If finances permit, some will plaster the inside and outside of the house walls with cement and put in a cement floor. The M Caves in the M Hills were an important hideaway for local rebel troops during the Maji Maji revolution. The most impressive cave, Nangoma, is revered locally for housing an important deity, and its name probably derives from the Swahili ngoma – dance – suggesting a history of use for ritual celebrations and worship. M children are expected to attend government primary schools, located in major villages.

Religion: Islam and Folk Islam. Ancestor worship, Islam, spiritism and superstition are all part of present-day M culture and religion.

Ask the Lord to lift the veil from the eyes of the M, that they could proclaim, “And we have seen and testify that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

Population: 250,000+

Location and Background: The Ndengereko are a Bantu speaking tribe centralized between the Ruvu and Rufigi Rivers on the southern coast of Tanzania at an altitude of 300’. Once thought to have been part of the Matumvi tribe originally, they moved north to settle in their current location and farm. The first president implemented a plan which burned people out of their farms forcing them into communist style settlements in major community centers. Many families still live in these community centers but travel quite a distance to get to their farms.

History: During the Maji Maji war, of World War I, many tribes came to the Ndengereko area to help the Germans fight in the war. They needed a language to communicate in and so they chose Kindengereko. After the war was over, most ended up staying in that area and they were absorbed into or became, by language default, the Ndengereko.

Culture: The Ndengereko are subsistence farmers, growing maize rice, cashews, and sesame. They are very community oriented, living in houses made of packed mud and stick with thatched roofs, which are quickly being replaced with metal sheeting. The Ndengereko speak Kiswahili, as their mother tongue is dying out with the older generation. Music is an intricate part of their lives and is woven into their social and religious events. The traditional drum beats are being combined with modern dance music.

Religion: The Ndengereko claim to be born Islam, but will turn first to their animistic traditions in times of trouble. They are so seamlessly interwoven that many do not understand where Islam ends and their animistic beliefs begin.

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 arrived in their present location in the 16th c. Before Europeans arrived, they had an empire consisting of four clans, each  descended from one ancestor. Their ancient king, Mirambo, was known to be a brilliant military leader. They were traders, and by 1800 they were involved in trade of copper, wax, ivory, and slaves with Arabs at the coast. Elephant hunting was a prestigious occupation due to the wealth from ivory trade. They also acquired guns and were often involved in intra-tribal wars, and conflicts with the Arabs.

Culture:   The nuclear family lives together, and villages are not necessarily based on kinship relationships. Ideally every adult should be married. Various rituals are held for marriage and naming babies, and Westernization has had much influence on how the Nyamwezi function. Children go to the government schools. They are agriculturalists and pastoralists. Goats and sheep are used for sacrifices, and for their meat and skins. Their land is dry woodland, with scarce water, so it is not prime agricultural land. Men work the land, women care for the home.

Religion:   The Nyamwezi embrace African Traditional beliefs, Islam and Christianity. They have much respect for their ancestors (the living dead), to whom they offer sacrifices and rely on for their benevolence. Most claim to be Muslims and follow the five pillars of Islam, but in reality they live by their animistic worldview, believing in a creator God, the spirit world, and the importance of using witchdoctors and other diviners to communicate with the spirits. It is reported there are 80,000  Nyamwezi in the Moravian church. The AIC-T has planted a hundred churches in the area but the majority of attenders could be Sukuma, not Nyamwezi. Some say up to 15% of Nyamwezi could be Christian, most of those are Catholic or nominal Christian.

Learn more about the Nyamwezi at Joshua Project or about Tanzania at Operation World.

Population: 66,000

Location and Background: The O are semi-nomadic herders who live in the semi-arid bush lands of East Africa, in round, dome-shaped structures which can be dismantled in order to move with their herds. They are the most southern representatives of the once more powerful nations to the north.

History: They migrated south as cattle and camel herders, raiding more settled peoples as they went. They controlled a wide area of territory around 400 years ago, but due to health epidemics and surrounding enemies the size of the tribe was reduced. They resisted the Islam of the Arab slave traders until the 1920s, and by 1950 the whole tribe had converted. They are often in conflict with their neighbors over conflicts about access to good grazing, wells, and river waters for their herds. Recently there have been times of violent clashes, revenge raids and cattle stealing between ethnic communities.

Culture: Cattle are central in O culture, being used to pay bride price, and are slaughtered for weddings and funerals. Boys are taught to shepherd smaller animals. Girls help with household chores and younger siblings. There are special ceremonies for the birth of babies, and for  funerals.

Polygamy is practiced by half of the men, marriages used to be arranged but now elopement is more common. For men, bravery is stressed and riding, spear throwing, and fighting are admirable skills.

Modern education and the practice of Islam is creating change in the culture. Traditionally the elders had authority and were respected, and decided cases when there were disputes. They led the people to repentance and forgiveness through blood   sacrifice and confession. The breakdown in traditional ways, replaced by the five pillars of Islam, has left people uncertain about their forgiveness until the Day of Judgment.

Religion: The O culture is becoming more and more Islamic in nature. Traditionally they believed in a creator God associated with the sky and believed in the spirits associated with locations in nature. These beliefs are now combined with their Islamic beliefs. Blood sacrifices are decreasing and   observance of the five pillars of Islam is done in order to please God and gain forgiveness.

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 of water, they would settle there. One day some young men went hunting and were left behind by the others, so they stayed there and became the related Mbugwe tribe. The others continued south and settled as the Rangi in a place where the “water didn’t go out”, or Haubi. This is considered their place of origin. The Rangi in Kondoa converted to Islam in the early 1900s, but those in the Haubi valley resisted. In 1937 they decided to become Catholic and built a cathedral.  7% of Rangi consider themselves Catholic.

Culture:  A matriarchal society, the Rangi live in villages and perceive their identity through their communities. They are farmers, growing cash crops such as maize, sunflower seeds, millet and other vegetables. Their income as vendors in the market, however, is unreliable because of their dependence on rain. Their wealth is tied up in their grain, and in their cattle. The Rangi also are known for the clay pots they make.

Religion:   Traditional religious beliefs have been incorporated into both the Islam and Catholicism of the Rangi. They believe in a supernatural world that affects every activity, and sacrifices, sorcery and witchcraft are common. In the Haubi highlands there is a sacred forest where traditionally initiation ceremonies took place; the Rangi greatly fear the place and avoid and protect it. They have often been mistrusted by others because of their reputation as being active with evil spirits and witchcraft, although these days more and more non-Rangi live in Kondoa and evidence of modernization is seen in TVs, phones, hospitals etc. Since 2000 the number of evangelical believers is growing. At one point the church was burned down, but it was rebuilt, along with a medical clinic, and school dorms. Baptisms are taking place, and more workers are needed. A translation project is progressing well.

Learn more about the Rangi at Joshua Project or about Tanzania at Operation World.

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 the outside world.

History:   The Rendille are Eastern Cushitic peoples who migrated from the Suez Canal and Ethiopia, moving south to escape rivalry and conflicts over grazing land and water for livestock. Their oral history claims they are of Jewish descent and their Passover-type ceremony called Sorio (“sacrifice to God”) includes the slaughtering of a sheep by the first-born son and putting the blood on their doorposts.

Culture:   The camel is their essential animal, and the development of boreholes has allowed them a less nomadic lifestyle. They live in “manyattas” or homesteads of 70-100 houses, and they dress in bright colors and wear beads. The men undergo various rites of passage to bring them into adulthood; young girls are often spoken for at an early age and marry very young. There is a place in every village called “nahapo”. This is a place of watching and prayer with a fire burning that is never to go out. Every night the men of the village meet there at 8:00pm and one man is designated to lead them in prayer.

Religion: The Rendille live between the Muslims to the north and Christians to the south. They rejected Islam since Rendille believe prayer should be made with their faces toward the  heavens, not on the ground. They practice a traditional, animistic religion which includes prayer to the moon (which is considered a god), animal sacrifices and worship of ancestral spirits. They also have traditional religious practices that resemble those of Judaism. The name of their god is Wakh. The moon plays an important part in their religion. On the night of the new moon the first-born son of each family blows a horn with an accompanying prayer ritual.

Learn more about the Rendille at Joshua Project or about Kenya at Operation World.

Population: 240,000

Location: Remote North Central Kenya greatly dispersed between Mt Kenya and Lake Turkana.

History: The Samburu are a Nilotic people who originally migrated from Sudan, settling in Northern Kenya centuries ago.

Culture: Their name comes from their traditional leather bag they carry called a ‘samburr’. They are related to the Maasai. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists, keeping cattle, sheep, and goats. They especially love their cattle. Like the Maasai, they believe all cattle belong to them, and cattle raiding is a major preoccupation. Young unmarried men are warriors, charged with protecting the village from lions and hyenas, as well as raiding other tribes’ cattle.
Both men and women adorn themselves with colorful beaded necklaces and the young men braid their long hair and coat it with ochre.
Elders rule the clan and their curse or blessing is taken seriously.

Religion: Animism. The Samburu believe in a creator god ‘Nkai’. They pray and seek his blessing. Their beliefs are expressed in their traditions and rituals, which they are very careful to follow. It is not uncommon for children and young people, especially women, to report visions of Nkai. A few children gain a reputation for prophecy throughout their lives. Samburu also have ritual diviners, called ‘loibonok’, who divine the causes of individual illnesses and misfortune. Sin has a very restricted meaning and therefore, many would say they have no sin.

Population: 40,000

Location: North central Tanzania

History: The Sandawe are descendants of the original San people who first populated Africa.

Culture: Traditionally hunter-gatherers, it is mainly the old men who remember this way of life. Few wild animals remain in the area. People still collect honey, but the hunting and tracking skills are being lost. Many have adopted some agricultural and herding practices of their neighbors, the the soil is poor. The Sandawe were forced by the government to settle in more permanent villages and now they live in small villages scattered through the area, with a few small ‘towns’ here and there. The area is hilly with woodland and scrub.
They are fond of singing, dancing, and telling stories which portray themselves as small animals who use their cunning intelligence to outwit more powerful enemies.

Religion: Animism. They worship the moon and stars and practice with craft. They fear spirits. There are some Catholic converts, but they mix Catholicism with animism. Islam is making inroads.

Pray for the South Asian communities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Many Indians came as laborers in the late 1800s and stayed on. They are known now as successful businessmen, controlling a significant segment of the economy even though they are a small minority. They are Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs.

Population: 82,000 in Kenya, 60,000 in Tanzania, and 15,000 in Uganda.

Location and Background: The majority of South Asians live in the big cities- Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Kampala. Most of them are involved in  business—they are believed to control about 40% of Uganda’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 Mombasa. Gujarati traders arrived in the 19th c and soon controlled trade in Zanzibar. Still today, their descendants control a sizable portion of the economy of Zanzibar. The British brought 32,000 indentured laborers from India (mostly Gujarat and Punjab provinces) to build the Mombasa to Kampala railway. Once completed, many stayed on and brought their families. Many settled in Nairobi. They prospered and gained political representation from the colonial powers. At the time of Kenyan independence, they were made to choose between British and Kenyan citizenship. Those who chose British citizenship were forced to leave. In Tanzania, the president ensured equal rights for all and so ushered in a smooth transition to independence. In Uganda, Idi Amin expelled all the Asians after independence, but in 1992 President Museveni simplified a law, allowing the Asians to return and re-acquire their lost businesses.

Culture: South Asians in East Africa include Punjabi, Gujarati, and Kutchi speakers. They often live in close knit communities and maintain their culture and close ties to family in India.

Religion: The majority of Hindi speakers practice Hinduism, which is more a lifestyle than a religion, where they worship a pantheon of gods, both good and evil. Hinduism teaches the soul never dies but is reincarnated. The law of “karma” states actions affect how the soul will be reborn. Gujarati Muslims worship Allah and obey the five pillars of Islam. The Sikh community is recognized by their traditional turbans and beards. They believe in the Equality of Mankind, the universal Brotherhood of Man, and One Supreme God (Ik Onkar). They strive for the union of the soul with God by disciplining their thoughts and actions to dispel lust, anger, greed,  attachment and ego. They believe  they can escape reincarnation if they achieve the union of their soul with God.

Learn more about the South Asians at Joshua Project or about Uganda at Operation World.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary and gathered from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.” Psalm 107:1-3

Population: 90,000

The Swahili Arabs live along the coasts of Tanzania and Kenya, East Africa, in an area commonly known as the Coastal Belt. They are concentrated in some of the ancient settlements along the coast and in cities such as Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mombasa. They can also be found throughout Zanzibar and Kenya’s Lamu Islands. The Swahili Arabs refer to their ancestors as the “old” or “true” Arabs. The group arose from intermarriage between traders from Arabia and local Bantu & Cushitic peoples. Slaves and mangrove poles were the main commodities sent to Arabia and South Asia. Even today, many Arab Swahili aspire to work in the Gulf States and families frequently intermarry between Yemen and Oman. Culturally and theologically, Arab Swahili proudly align themselves with Arabia rather than Africa.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Their lifestyle is suited to the environment in which they live. Most of the Swahili Arabs live in rural villages. They are primarily farmers and fishermen, although some who live in the cities may have other professions. The farmers grow cereal grains, vegetables, spices, and raise livestock. Some may have special skills as carpenters, ship wrights, or religious leaders; a few have become teachers or doctors.

Coastal Arab villages consist of houses that are situated closely together often with several generations living in the same house. There are many female headed households as a man is expected to provide a house for each of his wives and their children. Many women never leave the home. Family honour is very important, and each family member has a defined role according to Arab tradition. The family unit provides security during times of economic hardship and in old age. When young people leave their villages to find jobs in the towns or cities, the family socio-economic system is often weakened. Drug use among the youth is an increasing problem in society, especially in urban port cities.

As soon as a baby is born, the name “Allah” is whispered in its ear so that this will be the first word the child hears.

Boys and girls are raised together during early childhood; however, they receive very different treatment. While boys may be sent to school and madrassa (an Islamic school where they are taught to read and recite the Quran in Arabic), girls are often only sent to the madrassa and so may never learn to read and write their mother tongue.

Among the Coastal Arab Swahili, marriages take place as a way to continue a family lineage or as a means of meeting a family’s needs. The Swahili Arabs tend to marry other Swahili Arabs and Somalis or Arabs, because they are proud of their Muslim and Arab heritage and desire to remain a closed group. Polygyny (having multiple wives) is normal in Muslim Arab Swahili society and divorce and remarriage is very common.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Swahili Arabs are virtually all Sunni Muslim. Many follow the teachings of the Quran because it provides hope for a better life after death. Like other Muslims, the Swahili Arabs adhere to the five “pillars” of Islam. These include reciting prayers five times a day while facing Mecca, affirming that Allah is the only god and Mohammed is his prophet, observing the prescribed fasts, giving alms to the poor, and making at least one pilgrimage to Mecca. They are increasingly moving towards Wahhabi Islam due to the influence of the Gulf States and as a reaction against secular national governments which they perceive as persecuting them. Some of their cities boast centres of advanced Islamic learning and pilgrimage that attract students and teachers from all over Africa and beyond. These madrassas train Muslim evangelists and imams who then move to other parts of Africa.

In a strong contrast to most of sub-Saharan Africa, many ordinary laypeople, both men and women, are theologically literate and articulate. They know their Quran and Hadith and are well versed in Islamic apologetics.

The mosque is the centre of worship and society. Men regularly attend the mosque for prayer, but women rarely attend, making their prayers in the home. While men worship at the mosques, women usually attend ceremonies conducted at home by female religious leaders.

In addition to their Islamic beliefs, some of the Coastal Arabs also believe in spirits and possession is not uncommon, especially among women. They may try to appease these spirits during times of crisis or sickness by enlisting a specialist to recite appropriate Quranic verses.

Religion: The Swahili are almost 100% Muslim, with very few believers reported.

Pray for the Zaramo of Tanzania. They are subsistence farmers, living on the coastal plains of Southern Tanzania around Dar es Salaam. They are Folk Muslims, following Islam but still making sacrifices to a spirit called ‘Kolelo’ and fearful of witchcraft and being poisoned.

There are a few believers. Pray for a young woman who recently became a Christian. Her mother refuses to talk with her. Pray she would be strong and courageous and her family would come to faith as well. Pray for Tanzanian churches to reach out to their Zaramo neighbors. 

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 about 200 years ago. They were involved in the slave trade and would hunt slaves from other tribes. The relocation of the Tanzanian people in the 1960s caused great upheaval in the Zaramo culture, as they were the indigenous tribe of what became the economic capital, Dar es Salaam. Their land was bought up by more economically aggressive people. Although they could have become a more dominant tribe, they failed to gain influence due to internal fighting. They are often looked down upon because of lack of education.

Culture:   In addition to growing cash crops (mangoes, oranges, coconuts, cashews, rice, tobacco, maize, beans, yams, pineapples, sugarcane, limes and cucumbers), they also raise livestock such as goats, sheep and chickens, and make charcoal and do some carpentry and carving. Traditionally, decisions were decentralized, but today they operate under government structures. They are a matrilineal society as far as land inheritance–the birth of a girl is great cause for  celebration. Polygamy is practiced and divorce is common. Tribal history and traditions are passed down orally, and children go to school if it’s available. Traditional ceremonies include the  young woman’s rite of passage, young male circumcision, as well as others for the birth of children, marriage, and funerals.

Religion:   Islam has only gained a foothold in the last hundred years and although they observe basic Islamic practices, they have mixed them with their traditional religious worldview. They make sacrifices to a spirit called “Kolelo” and have ceremonies around the harvest. They fear poison and witchcraft. There are scattered churches of non-Zaramo people in the area, but Christianity is considered the religion of “outsiders”, and there are only a few Zaramo believers.

Learn more at Joshua Project or Operation World.

Scripture: Pray the Zigua would, “Here the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’” (Jer 31:10)

Population: 631,000

Location: North-East Coastal Tanzania

History: It is believed that the Zigua fled East from their homeland to their current location on the coast to avoid the slave trade of the 18th century.

Culture: The Zigua are Bantu people. They are farmers growing sisal, a fibrous plant used to make rope and mats. They also grow sesame and corn. “In coastal villages we visited, they are more fishing oriented,” writes AIM missionary Jeremy, after a survey to learn more about the group.  “The rural community of Komsanga, [which we visited], had very rudimentary houses and very little development.  The central town of Miono, about 10 km away from Komsanga, has electricity, a hospital, shops, and restaurants.  You don’t have to travel far out of this town to notice the dramatic change in apparent wealth, moving from brick houses with good tin roofs and electricity to mud walls and grass thatch without electricity or a close water source.”

The Zigua live in small houses are mud walls with grass thatch.  These are quite small buildings, ranging in size from about 6 square meters (65 sqr. feet) to perhaps 33 square meters (360 sqr feet) and are grouped in small clusters of two to eight houses.

Religion: Islam is the primary religion of the Zigua. It is often mixed with African Traditional Religion which includes ancestor worship. Some Zigua have chosen to follow Christ, and the Joshua Project reports that 3% of the the Zigua are evangelical Christian

Engagement: There are other organizations that have been working in and amongst the Zigua people, sometimes for many years.  For example the New Testament has been translated , the Jesus Film is available in Kizigua as well as other resources.  IMB and other organizations are currently engaged or are starting engagement as well.