Yao in Tanzania


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Yao people once sold slaves, ivory, tobacco, and cloth. Arab Muslim traders from coastal East Africa supplied them with firearms so they could raid neighboring tribes and take captives for the lucrative slave trade. When the British imperialists began to invade Yao lands, they stopped the Yao from their slave raids because of pressure from missionaries. This made the Yao people more entrenched in the religion of the Muslims they traded with. As Yao chiefs became Muslim, the common people did as well. Today the Yao have a Muslim majority.


Where Are they Located?

The Yao people once lived on a mountain called Yao, where they were given their name. They later moved to Lake Malawi. Most Yao people live in Malawi or Mozambique, but a smaller number live in other African countries including Tanzania.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today most are subsistence farmers or fishermen on the shores of Lake Malawi. Others are traders and traveling businessmen. Their main language is Yao also called Chiyao. One- fourth are pre-literate.

The heart of Yao life is the village with 75 to 100 people. The village chief has a lot of power, though they are a matriarchal society where descent comes from the mother's line.


Perhaps due to a Christian playing a hand in ending their economic empire, the Muslim Yao have insulated themselves from Christianity.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Islamic religious system. However, they also practice pre-Islamic rituals which involve witchcraft and ancestor cults. In recent years there has been a move among the Yao people towards more orthodox Islam, but they are also more receptive to the gospel.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yao people need regular contact with people who will live lives made victorious in Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that Yao chiefs will turn their hearts to Jesus, and encourage others to do the same.
Pray that efforts to train Yao believers to reach others will result in a strong church planting movement.
Pray for new harvesters who will joyfully live among the Yao people, serve, them, and help them to see what a Holy Spirit transformed life can do for a community.
Pray that the Lord will raise up many who will use the Chiyao Bible as a foundation to produce radio broadcasts, gospel recordings, and culturally-appropriate worship music.


Scripture Prayers for the Yao in Tanzania.


References

Profiles written by Global Prayer Digest
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/15988/TZ
http://www.sim.org/index.php/content/yao
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Yao-African-people
http://www.uscwm.info/op1040/pdfs/137.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yao_people_(East_Africa)
http://www.niassatourism.com/yao-people-61.html


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

The Gospel Among the Yawo of Africa
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Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-01-10
People Name General Yao
People Name in Country Yao
Pronunciation yow
Population this Country 775,000
Population all Countries 3,584,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 15
Alternate Names Ajawa; Ayao; Chiyao; Wajao
People ID 15988
ROP3 Code 110980
Country Tanzania
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Ruvuma region: Tunduru district, east of Lake Malawi; Lindi region; possibly Mtwara region; Mozambique border area; possibly in Zimbabwe.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Tanzania
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Ruvuma region: Tunduru district, east of Lake Malawi; Lindi region; possibly Mtwara region; Mozambique border area; possibly in Zimbabwe..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Yao in Tanzania
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.20 %)
2.00 %
Ethnic Religions
5.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
93.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Yao (775,000 speakers)
Language Code yao   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Yao (775,000 speakers)
Language Code yao   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Yao
Photo Source The I Am Yawo Project 
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. Read more