People group profile · PG013774
The Esan of Nigeria
The Esan of Nigeria, numbering about 739,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Nigerian people organized into 35 independent kingdoms each ruled by its own Onojie, whose name means refugee, recalling an exodus of Benin citizens fleeing mourning laws imposed by Oba Ewuare in 1460, tracing origins to migrants from the Nok zone.
They are an indigenous people in the Guinean people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Esan.
Fast facts
- Country
- Nigeria
- Population
- 739,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Guinean
- Primary language
- Esan (ish)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- 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 ?
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Esan 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 Esan
- 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
Protestantism · Christianity
80% adherents
Primary language
Esan · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Esan
Gospel resources in Esan
- Bible available, published 1975
- 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 Esan
- 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.
- 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.
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