People group profile · PG011613
The Macha of Ethiopia
The Macha of Ethiopia, numbering about 7,195,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are one of the primary subgroups of the Oromo peoples of northern Ethiopia.
They are an indigenous people in the Oromo people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak West Central Oromo.

Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 7,195,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Oromo
- Primary language
- West Central Oromo (gaz)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet 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
- Widespread
Where they live
Gospel status
The Macha are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. 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 Macha
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
55% adherents
Primary language
West Central Oromo · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak West Central Oromo
Gospel resources in West Central Oromo
- Bible available, published 1998
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Oromo, West-Central)
- Magdalena (Oromo, West-Central)
- The Savior (Oromo, West-Central)
Bibles
- 1993 Bible Society of Ethiopia · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Macha
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
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