Prototype rebuild by the IMB Innovation Team. The official site is peoplegroups.org.

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).

Pray for the CishingaPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Cishinga people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Cishinga

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

Ethnoreligion

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

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Cishinga

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

Download a prayer guide

Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.