Toli Gbe in Benin

The Toli Gbe have only been reported in Benin
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Toli is one of about 20 Gbe dialects spoken in West Africa, from Ghana to Nigeria.

Toli Gbe refers to people who speak a specific dialect, not about an ethnic group.

Benin was relatively peaceful until the rise of the transatlantic slave trade. Eventually, 15,000 slaves per year were snatched from the area around Benin as part of a trade between the European mainland, West Africa, and the colonies of the New World. Male slaves were especially prized, so there were two adult women for every man left in Africa by the slave traders.


Where Are they Located?

Those who speak the Toli dialect of Gbe live in the small West African nation of Benin.


What Are Their Lives Like?

While Benin has experienced economic growth over the past few years and is one of Africa's largest cotton producers, it ranks among the world's poorest countries.

Women are responsible for cooking, cleaning, hauling water, caring for children, and numerous other chores that fill a day. They have little leisure time.

Housing is generally mud brick – either round with mud walls, or rectangular with walls made of sun-dried mud bricks. Most houses have straw thatched roofs.

The farming season is about five months long, from June to October. Farming and gardening is all done by hand, using long-handled implements for the planting and cultivating of crops like sorghum and millet. It is labor intensive, and despite a farmer's best efforts, they can produce little or nothing because of draught or pests. In addition to farming, Toli Gbe speakers raise chickens, sheep, goats, and cattle, although the larger animals are usually only slaughtered and eaten during religious ceremonies and festivals.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The people who speak Toli Gbe are animistic. This means that they believe there are many spirits in the world that must be appeased and placated. Voodoo is a spiritual stronghold among many people groups in Benin. There are some believers among Toli Gbe speakers who can be used of the Lord to show them a better way.

Toli Gbe speakers are unreached with the gospel. The complete Bible, Global Recordings Network (GRN) audio, and visual resources, such as the JESUS Film, are available in their language, so believers can take these gospel materials to them.


What Are Their Needs?

Their most critical need is for the Savior, who loves them and desires a personal relationship with them. They need to see past their worldly lives, and see that they have no acceptance with the creator of the universe except through His son.


Prayer Points

Pray for the justice and righteousness of the Lord to spread throughout Benin.
Pray that teams of disciples will live among Toli Gbe speakers and reach them with the gospel.
Pray for many witchdoctors and voodoo priests to experience the power and mercy of Jesus, and turn to Him.
Pray that the Toli Gbe speakers will see the difference between their animistic religion and faith in God the Father.


Scripture Prayers for the Gbe, Toli in Benin.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gbe_languages
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4pKTrcxdXA
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13037572
https://www.britannica.com/place/Benin

Written by Karen Hightower, GPD writer


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Gbe, Toli
People Name in Country Gbe, Toli
Natural Name Toli Gbe
Alternate Names Toli
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 13,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15541
ROP3 Code 110138
ROP25 Code 308233
ROP25 Name Toli-Gbe
Country Benin
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Ouémé department: Southeast, Akpro-Missérété, Avrankou, Adjarra, Porto-Novo communes; Plateau department: Sakete commune.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Benin
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Ouémé department: Southeast, Akpro-Missérété, Avrankou, Adjarra, Porto-Novo communes; Plateau department: Sakete commune..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Gbe, Toli in Benin Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
5.00 %
Ethnic Religions
94.90 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.10 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Gun (13,000 speakers)
Language Code guw   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Toli
Dialect Code 6147   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Gun (13,000 speakers)
Language Code guw   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Toli
Dialect Code 6147   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Gun

Primary Language:  Gun

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1886-1910)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1892-1919)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1923)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gun Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gun YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Gun YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Gun Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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