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 |
Expanded PDF Profile |
People Name General | Sebei |
People Name in Country | Sebei |
Population this Country | 370,000 |
Population all Countries | 370,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
Alternate Names | Kupsabiny; Kupsapiny; Mbai; Sabiny; Sapiny |
People ID | 14805 |
ROP3 Code | 108780 |
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 Language | Kupsapiiny (370,000 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 (370,000 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 |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Kupsapiiny |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels |
General | Gospel resources links |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Kupsapiiny |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Religion Subdivision: | Anglican |
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 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
50.0 %
|
Independent |
15.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
10.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
25.0 %
|