People group profile · PG042732
The Irob of Ethiopia
The Irob of Ethiopia, numbering about 55,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic group inhabiting the mountainous Irobland, primarily in northeastern Tigray, Ethiopia, with a smaller population across the Eritrean border.
They are an indigenous people in the Afar-Saho people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Saho.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 55,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Afar-Saho
- Primary language
- Saho (ssy)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Irob, Erob, Saho
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Erob Woreda: aka Irobland, the traditional homeland of the Irob people in the northeastern highlands of Tigray, Ethiopia, near the border with Eritrea
Where they live
Gospel status
The Irob are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. 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 Irob
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
50% adherents
Primary language
Saho · Afro-Asiatic family
80% speak Saho
Gospel resources in Saho
- Bible available
- 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 Irob
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 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.
Saho in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108519) is reported in 1 other country.
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