People group profile · PG011952
The Digil-Rahanweyn of Somalia
The Digil-Rahanweyn of Somalia, numbering about 1,075,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are one of the five major Somali clan‑families and a key agricultural society of southern Somalia. They are distinct within Somali society for their riverine homeland, Maay (Af‑Maay) language, and agro‑pastoral economy.
They are an indigenous people in the Somali people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Maay.
Fast facts
- Country
- Somalia
- Population
- 1,075,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Somali
- Primary language
- Maay (ymm)
- 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
- Also known as
- Rahanweyn, Digil-Mirifle, Reewin
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Bakool, Bay, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, and Shabeellaha Hoose regions. Bakool and Bay regions (Maay Erte dialect); Jubbada Dhexe and Jubbada Hoose (Maay Dhete dialect)
Where they live
Gospel status
The Digil-Rahanweyn 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 Digil-Rahanweyn
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Maay · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Maay
Gospel resources in Maay
- Bible available, published 2024
- 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 Digil-Rahanweyn
- 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.
- 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.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.