People group profile · PG011636
The Selale of Ethiopia
The Selale of Ethiopia, numbering about 5,605,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a subgroup of the Tulema (Tulama) Oromo, one of the major branches of the Oromo people of Ethiopia. Their traditional homeland is the Selale/Salaalee region of North Shewa, north of Addis Ababa in present-day Oromia Region.
They are an indigenous people in the Oromo people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 5,605,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Oromo
- Primary language
- Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo (gax)
- Primary religion
- Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 10% or Greater but Less than 15%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Afar, Amhara, and Somali regions; Oromia region: south; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region
Where they live
Gospel status
The Selale 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 Selale
- 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
Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
70% adherents
Primary language
Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo
Gospel resources in Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1994 Bible Society of Kenya · audio
- 2007 Bible Society of Ethiopia · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Selale
- 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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