West Gurage in Ethiopia

The West Gurage have only been reported in Ethiopia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Sebat-bet (seven houses) Gurage live in the south-central highlands of Ethiopia. The Gurage are known all over Ethiopia for their prowess in trade. While they consider themselves one people, there are 11 dialects of the Sebat-bet Gurage language, Guraginya. Most of the Gurage people are Muslim, though they are currently and religiously divided along dialect lines.

The New Testament is available in the Chehc dialect of Guraginya but only very few people know how to read it. Most churches in the area preach in the national language with some interpretations into local language. The Gurage people need a large scale literacy program to enable them to read the New Testament in their own language. Also one of the dialects of Guraginya, Inor, will need to have their own translation to ensure that people can understand God's word clearly. Speakers of the Endegeny dialect will be able to read the Scriptures in Inor. The others can understand the Scriptures in cheha.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Gurage, West in Ethiopia.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Gurage, West
People Name in Country Gurage, West
Natural Name West Gurage
Alternate Names Central West Gurage; Chaha; Enor; Gimer; Gurage, Peripheral West
Population this Country 253,000
Population all Countries 253,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 15917
ROP3 Code 110758
ROP25 Code 302875
ROP25 Name Gurage
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: west Gurage zone; Chaha dialect: Emdibir area; Gura dialect: Gura Megenase and Wirir areas; Muher dialect: Ch’eza area, mountains north of Chaha and Ezha; Gyeto dialect: south of Ark’it’ in K’abul and K’want’e; Ezha dialect: Agenna.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: west Gurage zone; Chaha dialect: Emdibir area; Gura dialect: Gura Megenase and Wirir areas; Muher dialect: Ch’eza area, mountains north of Chaha and Ezha; Gyeto dialect: south of Ark’it’ in K’abul and K’want’e; Ezha dialect: Agenna..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 12.90 %)
80.00 %
Ethnic Religions
10.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
10.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Sebat Bet Gurage (253,000 speakers)
Language Code sgw   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Chaha
Dialect Code 3095   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Sebat Bet Gurage (253,000 speakers)
Language Code sgw   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Chaha
Dialect Code 3095   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Sebat Bet Gurage
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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