People group profile · PG014188
The Yerwa Kanuri of Nigeria
The Yerwa Kanuri of Nigeria, numbering about 8,745,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Kanuri ethnic group indigenous to the Borno and Yobe states of northeastern Nigeria.
They are an indigenous people in the Kanuri-Saharan people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Islam, and they primarily speak Central Kanuri.
Fast facts
- Country
- Nigeria
- Population
- 8,745,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Kanuri-Saharan
- Primary language
- Central Kanuri (knc)
- Primary religion
- Folk Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- 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 Yerwa Kanuri 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 Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Yerwa Kanuri
- 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
Folk Islam · Islam
100% adherents
Primary language
Central Kanuri · Saharan family
100% speak Central Kanuri
Gospel resources in Central Kanuri
- Bible available, published 1998
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Kanuri, Yerwa)
Bibles
- 1997 Bible Society of Nigeria · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Yerwa Kanuri
- 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.
- 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.
Kanuri, Yerwa in other countries
The same people (ROP3 104605) is reported in 4 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanuri | Sudan | 497,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Yerwa Kanuri | Chad | 292,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Yerwa Kanuri | Niger | 238,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Yerwa Kanuri | Cameroon | 191,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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