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People group profile · PG011553

The Begi-Mao of Ethiopia

The Begi-Mao of Ethiopia, numbering about 71,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Ethiopia.

They are an indigenous people in the Omotic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Hozo.

Pray for the Begi-MaoPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Begi-Mao people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2025). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Begi-Mao

Fast facts

Country
Ethiopia
Population
71,500
Affinity group
Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
People cluster
Omotic
Primary language
Hozo (hoz)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Eastern Africa, Africa
Location
Benishangul-Gumuz region; Oromia region: West Wollega zone, Babo Gambel, Begi, K’ondala, and Manasibu districts

Where they live

Gospel status

The Begi-Mao are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Begi-Mao

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Sunni Islam · Islam

91% adherents

Primary language

Hozo · Blue Nile Mao family

60% speak Hozo

Gospel resources in Hozo

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Begi-Mao

  1. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  2. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  3. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  4. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.

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