People group profile · PG011612
The Mareko of Ethiopia
The Mareko of Ethiopia, numbering about 106,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Highland East Cushitic people of the Mareko area southeast of Butajira in Ethiopia's Gurage Zone, distinct from neighboring Gurage groups and remembered for resisting Italian occupation in the 1930s.
They are an indigenous people in the Sidama people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Libido.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 106,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Sidama
- Primary language
- Libido (liq)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Oromia region: west of Lake Ziway; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Gurage, Hadiyya, and Kambaata zones, northeast of Hosaina
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mareko 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 Mareko
- 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
95% adherents
Primary language
Libido · Afro-Asiatic family
70% speak Libido
Gospel resources in Libido
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Maro)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mareko
- 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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