People group profile · PG015314
The Tanala of Madagascar
The Tanala of Madagascar, numbering about 1,270,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic group in Madagascar.
They are an indigenous people in the Malagasy people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Plateau Malagasy.
Fast facts
- Country
- Madagascar
- Population
- 1,270,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Malagasy
- Primary language
- Plateau Malagasy (plt)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tanala 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 Tanala
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
80% adherents
Primary language
Plateau Malagasy · Austronesian family
100% speak Plateau Malagasy
Gospel resources in Plateau Malagasy
- Bible available, published 2011
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Dikanteny Iombonana Eto Madagasikara · video
- Interconfessional Version · audio, text
- Protestant version 1985 based on Malagasy Protestant Bible 1965 · audio, text
- Revised Protestant Version · audio
- Roman Catholic Version 2010 based on text Malagasy Catholic Bible 2003 · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Tanala
- 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.
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