People group profile · PG013584
The Jola of Mauritania
The Jola of Mauritania, numbering about 5,400 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an ethnic group indigenous to the Lower Casamance region of Senegal and neighboring parts of the Gambia.
They are a diaspora people in the Atlantic-Jola people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Islam, and they primarily speak Jola-Fonyi.
Fast facts
- Country
- Mauritania
- Population
- 5,400
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Atlantic-Jola
- Primary language
- Jola-Fonyi (dyo)
- Primary religion
- Folk Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and 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 Jola 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 Jola
- 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
Folk Islam · Islam
73% adherents
Primary language
Jola-Fonyi · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Jola-Fonyi
Gospel resources in Jola-Fonyi
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Jola-Fogny)
Bibles
- 2011 Bible Society in the Gambia · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Jola
- 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.
Jola-Fonyi in other countries
The same people (ROP3 102625) is reported in 4 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jola | Senegal | 389,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Jola-Fonyi | Gambia | 148,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Jola | Guinea-Bissau | 11,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Jola-Fogny | France | 100 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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