Mamaa in Papua New Guinea

The Mamaa have only been reported in Papua New Guinea
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Mamaa are a small people group in Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea, associated with Mama village in the inland northeast of the country. They belong to the broader Finisterre–Huon region, where many small mountain and foothill communities developed with strong local identity, close kinship ties, and relative isolation from one another. External linguistic sources identify Mamaa as a language of Morobe Province spoken in Mama village.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Mamaa live in an inland Morobe setting where village life is commonly shaped by rugged foothill or mountain terrain, forest paths, and cultivated garden land rather than easy road access. In this kind of environment, ordinary life typically centers on small-scale gardening, especially root crops and other subsistence foods, with pigs often important in household economy and community relationships. Homes are usually simple village houses built from local materials suited to a humid tropical climate. Travel between settlements is often by foot along local tracks, and family and clan obligations strongly shape work, marriage, and community cooperation. Their language in ordinary life is Mamaa, though Tok Pisin is also widely used in Papua New Guinea as a broader lingua franca.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Mamaa are identified as Christian, though some traditional ethnic religious influence may remain. Scripture is available in their language.


What Are Their Needs?

The Mamaa need spiritual depth so that Christian identity is matched by genuine repentance, biblical conviction, and obedience to Christ. Where there is a strong Christian base, the need is for healthy churches, faithful shepherds, sound teaching, and families that live out the gospel clearly. They need protection from nominal Christianity, compromise, and any lingering attachment to older spiritual loyalties. They also need renewed zeal to carry the gospel beyond their own community and to serve other ethnic groups with faithful witness.


Prayer Items

Pray that the Mamaa would grow in genuine repentance, biblical clarity, and joyful obedience to Jesus Christ.
Pray that pastors, elders, and other local leaders would teach Scripture faithfully and lead with humility and courage.
Pray that any remaining attachment to older spiritual practices would be fully surrendered to the lordship of Christ.
Pray for strong Christian families, healthy churches, and enduring discipleship among the Mamaa.
Pray that the Mamaa would actively reach out to other ethnic groups with the gospel and become a faithful witness beyond their own community.


Scripture Prayers for the Mamaa in Papua New Guinea.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamaa_language
https://www.britannica.com/place/Papua-New-Guinea/Languages


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mamaa
People Name in Country Mamaa
Alternate Names
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale Progress Gauge
Unreached No
Frontier No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 13463
ROP3 Code 106192
Country Papua New Guinea
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Morobe province: Mama village. North-northwest of Uri [uvh] and west of Finongan [fag] language areas.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Papua New Guinea
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Morobe province: Mama village. North-northwest of Uri [uvh] and west of Finongan [fag] language areas..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Estimated Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity
95.00 %
Ethnic Religions
5.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Judaism
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Sikhism
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tok Pisin
Ethnologue Language Code tpi
Ethnologue Language Familly Creole
Glottolog Language Family Indo-European
Written / Published Yes   (ScriptSource Listing)
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Doloman
Primary Language Tok Pisin
Ethnologue Language Code tpi
Ethnologue Language Familly Creole
Glottolog Language Family Indo-European
Written / Published Yes   (ScriptSource Listing)
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Doloman

Primary Language:  Tok Pisin

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1956-1992)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1969-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1989-1999)
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
Audio Recordings Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Audio Recordings Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tok Pisin Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: AMAMAS ELCPNG General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bible in Tok Pisin, English, audio, daily readings General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tok Pisin YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tok Pisin Baibel General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tok Pisin Bible with Audio 2.5 General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tok Pisin YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Text / Printed Matter Scripture text - download PNG Bible Translation Association
Text / Printed Matter tools for gospel conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.