Punu in Gabon

Introduction / History

The Punus of Gabon and the Republic of Congo are defined by their language, Punu. Their ancestors were called the Jagas.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Punus are known primarily for their bronze and wooden carved masks. There are different kinds of masks with different meanings and purposes. Some are considered to contain so much evil that they were hidden from outsiders who might want to put them in museums.

The Punu community has autonomous villages. Their organization is decentralized.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Punu traditional god is Nyambye. They feared evil spirits that caused sickness. To deal with this, they performed special rituals to cast out the spirit. When someone died, they would call upon a wizard to find out the reason for death. Some believed death is actually a state of being bewitched. Punus often hold on to jealousy of successful people, which they believe can harm that person.

Today they are mainly Christian, either Catholic or Protestant. About one-fourth of them are Evangelical.

What Are Their Needs?

The Punus need to put all their hope in Jesus Christ. As it stands, many remain fearful of a spirit world that Christ already conquered when he walked out of that grave.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in Punu families and churches, drawing them close to the King of kings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out Punu Christ followers to disciple others, especially those from a Muslim background.
Pray for a record high crop for Punu farmers as a testimony of God’s power and goodness.
Pray for the Lord to draw Punus away from jealousy, into a peace and joy when they encounter those who are successful.

Text Source:   Joshua Project