People group profile · PG014746
The Yaka of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Yaka of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, numbering about 1,505,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a matrilineal people of southwestern DRC related to the Suku, whose 16th-century kingdom invaded Kongo from the Lunda Plateau before subservience under the 1620 Lunda expansion, regaining independence after the Lunda-Chokwe empire's collapse.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Central-South people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Yaka (Democratic Republic of Congo).
Fast facts
- Country
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Population
- 1,505,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-South
- Primary language
- Yaka (Democratic Republic of Congo) (yaf)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- 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
- Middle Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Yaka 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 Yaka
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
78% adherents
Primary language
Yaka (Democratic Republic of Congo) · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Yaka (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Gospel resources in Yaka (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Bible available, published 1973
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Yaka)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Yaka
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Yaka in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110931) is reported in 1 other country.
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