People group profile · PG015539
The Tembu of South Africa
The Tembu of South Africa, numbering about 935,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an isiXhosa-speaking nation descended from the Hala clan that migrated from KwaZulu-Natal to found the independent kingdom of Thembuland in the Eastern Cape, later annexed by the British and absorbed into the Transkei.
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
- 935,000
- 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
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tembu 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Tembu
- 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 Tembu
- 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.
- 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.
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