People group profile · PG015574
The Cishinga of Zambia
The Cishinga of Zambia, numbering about 101,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an Indigenous Bantu people of Zambia, recognized as a distinct ethnic group within the Central–South Bantu cluster of sub‑Saharan Africa. They are a Bemba‑related people, historically rooted in northern and northeastern Zambia.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Central-South people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Bemba (Zambia).

Fast facts
- Country
- Zambia
- Population
- 101,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-South
- Primary language
- Bemba (Zambia) (bem)
- Primary religion
- Ethnoreligion
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Chishinga
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Northern Province, Luapula Province, parts of Eastern and Copperbelt Province
Where they live
Gospel status
The Cishinga are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Cishinga
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Primary language
Bemba (Zambia) · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Bemba (Zambia)
Gospel resources in Bemba (Zambia)
- Bible available, published 2016
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1956 Icipingo Cipya · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Cishinga
- 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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