People group profile · PG013769
The Emai of Nigeria
The Emai of Nigeria, numbering about 271,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Edoid people of northern Edo State whose traditions trace their origin to migrants from the Benin Kingdom and who form part of the wider Afemai cultural region of southern Nigeria.
They are an indigenous people in the Guinean people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Emai-Iuleha-Ora.
Fast facts
- Country
- Nigeria
- Population
- 271,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Guinean
- Primary language
- Emai-Iuleha-Ora (ema)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC ?
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Emai are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Emai
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
66% adherents
Primary language
Emai-Iuleha-Ora · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Emai-Iuleha-Ora
Gospel resources in Emai-Iuleha-Ora
- Bible available, published 1910
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Aokha)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Emai
- 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.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
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