People group profile · PG012330
The Ije of Benin
The Ije of Benin, numbering about 201,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Yoruba subgroup known as the Ohori-Ije of southeastern Benin near Pobe, historically a refuge for people fleeing larger neighboring kingdoms until an uprising against French rule in 1914 led to their town's destruction and mass migration into Nigeria.
They are an indigenous people in the Yoruba people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Ede Ije.
Fast facts
- Country
- Benin
- Population
- 201,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Yoruba
- Primary language
- Ede Ije (ijj)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Ije 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 Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Ije
- 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
Protestantism · Christianity
94% adherents
Primary language
Ede Ije · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Ede Ije
Gospel resources in Ede Ije
- Bible available, published -
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings 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 Ije
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
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