Vai in Liberia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The earliest description of the Vai people came from Dutch merchants in the first half of the seventeenth century. Later Portuguese merchants associated them with some local birds. The Vai were able to speak for themselves and describe themselves when they developed their own cryptic written language in the 19th century. Each of its 212 unique symbols represents an entire syllable.


What Are Their Lives Like?

At one time the Vai were slave traders, but today some work as government employees or for foreign corporations. Most are fishermen or farmers. Plots of cleared land provide space to grow rice and vegetables. These plots can only be used for one or two years before the farmer must move to a new plot. New plots are cleared by using the "bush farming" technique. This involves burning off the land and allowing the ashes to serve as fertilizer. The only trees they do not cut down are palm trees which provide shade for the farmers, and they use the nuts for many things. Women and children participate in farming by chasing away the birds and weeding the plot. Game is scarce in Vai country since most of the animals live farther inland in the jungles. However, hunting occasionally provides meat for the Vai. The Liberian Vai are known as skilled carpenters, weavers and tailors. Although they are crafters of valuable hand-made items, imported goods are now beginning to take their place. Village houses are usually rectangular, about seven or eight feet high, and rise to a peak in the middle. They usually have from two to six rooms. The kitchen and bathroom are separate structures built several yards from the home. The Vai have three types of schooling. The first is the "bush school," where children learn how to be culturally Vai and important survival skills. Some then attend English schools to learn the English language. Finally, those who attend the Koranic schools are taught Classical Arabic under the guidance of the village iman (local Muslim religious leader). Growing technology in their region is changing the tribal Vai community. Automobiles have provided a means by which they can trade their cocoa, coffee and cloth with people in other towns.


Those living along the coast are surrounded by sandbars and swamps; while those living farther inland dwell in thick, forested areas.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Vai are predominantly Muslim, but they still practice many traditional beliefs. For instance, they believe the alligator is connected with evil spirits since it destroys life. Like Muslims they believe in a supreme god who is the controller of Earth and everything in it. The Vai believe that this god manifests himself through spirits and nature. They also believe that this god is too distant to serve or worship directly, so they use a spirit medium. Most of the Vai follow folk beliefs and some practice witchcraft. They consider themselves to be surrounded by spirits that can change into living creatures or objects. They believe these spirits have the power to do evil to individuals or to the whole tribe. The Vai perform ceremonies for the dead in which they leave articles of clothing and food near the graves of the deceased.


What Are Their Needs?

The Vai people need the chance to find the only Savior. They need the blessing of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Vai people teachable and understanding hearts. Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Vai families into a rich experience of God's blessing. Pray for Vai families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross. Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Vai family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement to Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Vai in Liberia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Vai
People Name in Country Vai
Pronunciation vye
Alternate Names Vey; Vy
Population this Country 198,000
Population all Countries 224,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
People ID 15762
ROP3 Code 110483
ROP25 Code 308530
ROP25 Name Vai
Country Liberia
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Grand Cape Mount county: coastal area and inland; Bomi county: southwest coast.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Liberia
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Grand Cape Mount county: coastal area and inland; Bomi county: southwest coast..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Vai in Liberia
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.23 %)
0.70 %
Ethnic Religions
24.30 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
75.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Vai
Language Code vai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Kono (Sierra Leone)
Primary Language Vai
Language Code vai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Kono (Sierra Leone)
People Groups Speaking Vai

Primary Language:  Vai

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1995)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2002)
Bible-Complete No
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 God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Vai 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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Vai YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Vai YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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