People group profile · PG013902
The Kana of Nigeria
The Kana of Nigeria, numbering about 493,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Ogoni people whose oral history traces a migration from Ghana led by a woman named Gbenekwaanwaa, who brought warriors and spirit mediums by canoe to found Nama, giving rise to the Khana kingdom, the first of six Ogoni settlements.
They are an indigenous people in the Benue people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Khana.

Fast facts
- Country
- Nigeria
- Population
- 493,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Benue
- Primary language
- Khana (ogo)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Kana are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Kana
- 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
96% adherents
Primary language
Khana · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Khana
Gospel resources in Khana
- Bible available, published 2000
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Ogoni)
Bibles
- 1968 Bible Society of Nigeria · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Kana
- 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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