People group profile · PG015526
The Pondo of South Africa
The Pondo of South Africa, numbering about 1,030,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Nguni Xhosa-speaking people who settled Pondoland around 500 AD and founded an independent kingdom by the early 1500s, scattered by Zulu forces during the 1820s Mfecane before King Faku rebuilt the Mpondo state, annexed by the Cape Colony in 1894.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Nguni people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Xhosa.
Fast facts
- Country
- South Africa
- Population
- 1,030,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Nguni
- Primary language
- Xhosa (xho)
- Primary religion
- Ethnoreligion
- 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
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Pondo 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 Pondo
- 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
Primary language
Xhosa · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Xhosa
Gospel resources in Xhosa
- Bible available, published 2014
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Pondo
- 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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