Daasanach in Ethiopia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Daasanach are a people with a fairly recent history. Their ties to one another have resulted from a common place of residence rather than from heredity. Exiles from many groups around the area of north Lake Turkana have united in support of one another in this hostile, arid environment. They have developed a unique tradition and culture and are open to the inclusion of other immigrants who are willing to abide by Daasanach customs and values. Until the turn of the century, we knew very little about the Daasanach, sometimes called the Merille. At that time, formal borders were created for many African countries, and the Daasanach found their traditional lands divided between Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. Since then, these semi-nomadic people have moved as freely as possible across the borders of these countries, but this movement is being more and more restricted by border posts and entry formalities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Daasanach are known for their fighting prowess and are feared by many neighboring groups such as the Gabbra and Turkana. The Daasanach celebrate their raids to obtain more cattle. Daasanach warriors are proud of the number of enemies they have killed. They value their unique culture, and the Daasanach are reluctant to adopt outside technology. In the 1960s American missionaries introduced irrigation systems to aid in agriculture, but these systems were neglected after foreigners were expelled from Ethiopia in 1974. Traditionally the Daasanach people owned cattle and roamed this part of Africa as nomads. But today this people group no longer owns cattle, and they have started to settle down as farmers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Today church work is being carried out in Kenya where only ten percent of the Daasanach people live. Here there are very few Daasanach Christians. We do not know what is left of earlier church work in Ethiopia. Most Daasanach people remain bound to their traditional religion. They worship a god they call Waag, a sky god who created the Earth. Most depend on the spirit world rather than in the blood of Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

The Daasanach people need to put their faith in Jesus Christ, who is the firm foundation.


Prayer Points

Pray for Bible translation work to bear good fruit among the Daasanach people in Ethiopia. Pray for the Daasanach people to put their faith in Jesus Christ rather than their traditional gods. Pray for the Lord to protect and guide workers among the Daasanach people. Pray for a movement to Christ to flourish.


Scripture Prayers for the Daasanach in Ethiopia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Daasanach
People Name in Country Daasanach
Pronunciation dah-sah-NAHCH
Alternate Names Daasanech; Galeba; Guleb; Marille; Merille; Reshait; Reshiat
Population this Country 88,000
Population all Countries 113,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 14549
ROP3 Code 108362
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: lower Omo river, along Lake Turkana.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: lower Omo river, along Lake Turkana..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Daasanach in Ethiopia
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.00 %)
1.50 %
Ethnic Religions
88.50 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
10.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Daasanach (88,000 speakers)
Language Code dsh   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Daasanach (88,000 speakers)
Language Code dsh   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Daasanach
Photo Source Rod Waddington - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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