Swahili in Greece


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The name Swahili literally means "coast," and is the name given to several people groups that share a common culture (Uswahili), language (Kiswahili), and religion (Islam). Thousands of years ago, groups of hunters inhabited the East African coast and intermarried with the Cushite shepherds there. By the second century, Bantu-speaking people from Northern Congo came to the area and intermarried with them. Subsequent groups of people migrating from other areas such as the Persian Gulf also joined these coastal people, adopting parts of their culture and language. Later, Indonesian, Hindi and Portuguese traders settled on the coast. Soon, they too began adopting Swahili traits and became a part of the larger group. Since that time, groups of Swahili have migrated to different parts of the coast, forming their own dialects and cultural variations. The Swahili language has many different dialects. A number of its words were borrowed from Arabic, the second language for many Swahili. More recently, Africans have come to Greece and other countries in Europe seeking for work, freedom, and a chance to start anew.
Today, the Swahili are scattered along Eastern Africa and the Persian Gulf, from Saudi Arabia to Zambia. Though they are called "Swahili" by others, they prefer to be named according to their local settlements. A small number lives in Greece.


What Are Their Lives Like?

African immigrants to Greece, including the Swahilis, are known as Afrogreeks. Since 2000, Swahili speakers have immigrated to Greece from East Africa. They have settled in three metropolitan areas, including Athens. Some are well-known athletes. Muslim or Christian, athlete or not, they fear racism. A Grecian political party convicted of leading a criminal organization is reported to have assaulted and harassed Afrogreeks.
They are often not accepted for a couple of reasons. These Africans usually are hoping to go to other countries, so they seldom try to learn Greek. In times of economic downturns Africans are viewed as threats to job security.
Africans definitely stand out in Greece. Gender roles are very different between post-modern Greeks and Muslim Africans like the Swahili.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly all of the Swahili profess to be Muslims; however, they have kept many of their traditional pre-Islamic beliefs and practices. For example, they believe in many spirits - both good and evil. They also believe in the supernatural power of witches and sorcerers. Those who have moved to Western cities are more likely to adhere to traditional Islam rather than African religion.


What Are Their Needs?

Although Christian resources are available in the Swahili language, there are only a small number of Swahili believers. There is a great need for laborers who are sensitive to their Muslim culture. Greece has religious freedom, so it would be especially easy for someone to reach them there. Who will do it?


Prayer Points

Pray for his kingdom to come and his will to be done among the Muslim Swahili people in Greece.
Pray for a movement of Swahili households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the Swahili people.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive a movement of the entire Swahili people to become his ambassadors in Greece.


Scripture Prayers for the Swahili in Greece.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Greeks
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/11/18/afro-greeks
https://books.google.com/books?id=2GCuDwAAQBAJ&dq=african+immigrants+in+greece+ethiopia+nigeria&pg=PA21#v=onepage&q=african%20immigrants%20in%20greece%20ethiopia%20nigeria&f=false


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Swahili
People Name in Country Swahili
Pronunciation swa-HEE-lee
Alternate Names African Black; Arab-Swahili; Bantu; Baraawe; Barwaani; Black African; Central Swahili; Coastal; Coastal Swahili; Mrima; Shirazi; Siddi; Swahili Shamba; Urban; Zanzibari
Population this Country 5,700
Population all Countries 1,208,000
Total Countries 25
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15145
ROP3 Code 109644
Country Greece
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Greece
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.30 %)
5.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
95.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Swahili (5,700 speakers)
Language Code swh   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Swahili (5,700 speakers)
Language Code swh   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Swahili

Primary Language:  Swahili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1868-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1879-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1890-2017)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
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
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Swahili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bibilia Takatifu Swahili Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Biblia TKU Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: Swahili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Biblia TKU Bible League
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Swahili YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Cartoon Gospel tract General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Swahili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Luciano Rizzello - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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