Uganda's Sapiiny people call their language Kupsapiiny, sometimes spelled with an 'a' at the end. They live in eastern Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon. Traditionally they raise cattle, many Sapiiny also rely on subsistence farming, cultivating maize, beans, wheat and potatoes. They sell their produce when they are able, but poor roads in some areas make it difficult to transport their crops to the market. More than 60 percent of the Sapiiny people live in poverty.
Clan elders provide leadership and, along with traditional prophets, establish laws, norms and values. Circumcision, performed on adolescent boys, provides cultural identity. Some Sapiiny also practice female circumcision, although in secret because it is illegal.
Christianity came to the Sapiiny in the 1930s through the efforts of a large Christian denomination. Other denominations and Christian groups came in the 1970s. Now 70 percent of the Sapiiny people identify themselves as Christians, although only about half of those are deeply rooted in their faith and growing. Although they believe in the Creator, many see Him as distant. Many also fear ancestral spirits and practice traditional religion, keeping totems and relying on the revelations of local prophets and clan leaders for guidance.
The existing Kupsapiiny New Testament is not widely used. It is essentially a word-for-word rendering of the English Good News Bible and is not the way the Kupsapiiny naturally speak so they are beginning a new translation.
Scripture Prayers for the Sebei in Uganda.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Sebei |
People Name in Country | Sebei |
Alternate Names | Kupsabiny; Kupsapiny; Mbai; Sabiny; Sapiny |
Population this Country | 371,000 |
Population all Countries | 371,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 14805 |
ROP3 Code | 108780 |
ROP25 Code | 307323 |
ROP25 Name | Sebei |
Country | Uganda | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Kapchorwa and Bukwa districts; some in Nakapiripirit district; Kenya border area. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Uganda |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Kapchorwa and Bukwa districts; some in Nakapiripirit district; Kenya border area.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 30.00 %) |
70.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
30.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Kupsapiiny (371,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kpz Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Sebei |
Dialect Code | 1118 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Kupsapiiny (371,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kpz Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Sebei |
Dialect Code | 1118 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Kupsapiiny |
Primary Language: Kupsapiiny
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1975) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1995-2020) |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | 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 Kupsapiiny | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Scripture Earth Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
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 |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Kupsapiiny | Literacy & Evangelism International |
Photo Source | Bulalu Tonny |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |