Saho, Irob in Eritrea


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Saho homeland stretches south from the Red Sea in Eritrea into Ethiopia. Its western border is flanked by the Tigre and Tigrinya people groups and its eastern border by the Afar. It was my privilege to personally interact with the Saho in the city of Foro near the Red Sea, as well as at Adi Keyh and Sen'afe near the Ethiopian border.

Foro is a 30-minute drive from Massawa on the road to Tio. The road is good, and Saho villages have sprung up along it to have access to schools and clinics. The Saho comprise more than 50 percent of Foro's inhabitants.

The Saho are farmers. Foro is located in the middle of a valley at a former reservoir built by the Italians during their colonial rule. Irrigation provides Saho farmers with beautiful fields of maize that extend toward the mountains as far as the eye can see. Looking north toward the Red Sea, a person cannot help but marvel at the hundreds of acres of maize.

A village of 250 homes is on the eastern outskirts of Foro. The houses are well-built and the village is clean. The residents' civic pride is evident. This village seems ideal for language learning, even for those living in Foro, a ten-minute walk away.

I visited Adi Keyh on Wednesday, a full-blown market day. A wood market is operated primarily by Saho. Camels were lying down with two racks of wood beside them.

Next to the wood market is a row of shops. Many of them are operated by Saho merchants. An outgoing, aggressive businessman sold me some popcorn and a prayer hat. Another shop owner, who specializes in selling honey, spoke excellent English and seemed comfortable with a stranger. It appears these two men are open to a gospel witness.

Saho make up about 25 percent of Adi Keyh's population. However, many small Saho villages are located east and south toward Sen'afe. Sen'afe is about 45 percent Saho, but the number grows to 60 percent when surrounding villages are included. Five mosques are in Sen'afe, and most Muslims are Saho. A large valley stretches to the northwest, all the way to Tsorona, and approximately nine out of 10 farmers are Saho.


Prayer Points

The Saho community is fertile soil for sowing the seed of the Gospel. Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit among the Saho people.
By contextualizing his message, a Christian worker could live among the Saho and provide them with an adequate witness of the Gospel. Pray for the Lord to raise up laborers.


Scripture Prayers for the Saho, Irob in Eritrea.


Profile Source:   Link Up Africa  

People Name General Saho, Irob
People Name in Country Saho, Irob
Alternate Names Irob; Minifere; Sao; Shaho; Shiho; Shoho
Population this Country 149,000
Population all Countries 208,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14641
ROP3 Code 108519
Country Eritrea
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 4  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Debub, Semenawi K’eyih Bahri, Debubawi K’eyih Bahri regions.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Eritrea
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 4  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Debub, Semenawi K’eyih Bahri, Debubawi K’eyih Bahri regions..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.25 %)
30.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
65.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Saho (149,000 speakers)
Language Code ssy   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Saho (149,000 speakers)
Language Code ssy   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Saho

Primary Language:  Saho

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1956-1964)
Bible-New Testament Yes
Bible-Complete No
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus film: view in Saho Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Saho YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Saho YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Eduardo Araia 
Map Source People Group Location: Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Link Up Africa 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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