People group profile · PG012335
The Lama of Benin
The Lama of Benin, numbering about 109,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Gur-speaking people closely related to the Kabiye, whose ancestors settled the hilly Atakora region of Benin and Togo during the 17th and 18th centuries to escape slave raids by the Mamprusi, Dagomba, and Mossi kingdoms.
They are an indigenous people in the Gur people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Kabiyè.
Fast facts
- Country
- Benin
- Population
- 109,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Gur
- Primary language
- Kabiyè (kbp)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- 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
- Western Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lama 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 Lama
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
89% adherents
Primary language
Kabiyè · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Kabiyè
Gospel resources in Kabiyè
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2011 Bibles International · text
- Roman Catholic Version · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Lama
- 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.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
Lama in other countries
The same people (ROP3 114833) is reported in 1 other country.
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