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People group profile · PG015632

The Soli of Zambia

The Soli of Zambia, numbering about 163,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are original inhabitants of the Lusaka area in Zambia since the 1600s-1700s, whose oral history traces descent from the Luba Kingdom via migration along the Luapula River, closely related to the neighboring Lala-Lamba cluster.

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 Soli.

Pray for the SoliPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Soli people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Soli

Fast facts

Country
Zambia
Population
163,000
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Bantu, Central-South
Primary language
Soli (sby)
Primary religion
Ethnoreligion
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
5% or Greater but Less than 10%
GSEC
5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
Lostness priority
Marginally Reached People Group
Region
Eastern Africa, Africa

Where they live

Gospel status

The Soli are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Soli

  • 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

Ethnoreligion

Primary language

Soli · Atlantic-Congo family

100% speak Soli

Gospel resources in Soli

  • Bible available, published 2018
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

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

Pray for the Soli

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

Download a prayer guide

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