People group profile · PG011548
The Aari of Ethiopia
The Aari of Ethiopia, numbering about 479,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a South Omotic-speaking people of southwestern Ethiopia centered around Jinka and the surrounding highlands, known for intensive farming, strong clan traditions, and a religious landscape shaped by both indigenous spiritual traditions and Christianity.
They are an indigenous people in the Omotic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Aari.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 479,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Omotic
- Primary language
- Aari (aiw)
- Primary religion
- Ethnoreligion
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 30% or Greater but Less than 40%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: central north Omo zone, south tip of Ethiopia plateau
Where they live
Gospel status
The Aari are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Aari
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
40% adherents
Primary language
Aari · South Omotic family
70% speak Aari
Gospel resources in Aari
- Bible available, published 2017
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Aari
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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