People group profile · PG015063
The Zanaki of Tanzania
The Zanaki of Tanzania, numbering about 186,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Tanzania.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Central-Lakes people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Neo-Pentecostalism, and they primarily speak Zanaki.
Fast facts
- Country
- Tanzania
- Population
- 186,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-Lakes
- Primary language
- Zanaki (zak)
- Primary religion
- Neo-Pentecostalism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Mara region: Musoma rural district, Makongoro division
Where they live
Gospel status
The Zanaki 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 Zanaki
- 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
Neo-Pentecostalism · Christianity
50% adherents
Primary language
Zanaki · Atlantic-Congo family
50% speak Zanaki
Gospel resources in Zanaki
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Zanaki)
Bibles
- Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Zanaki
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- 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.
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