Suri in Ethiopia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Suri people are not the kind of people that get the attention of anthropologists. They are small in number, but not dying out as a people. They do not live a lifestyle that stands out in this part of the world. Fortunately, there is some missionary work among this animistic people.
The Suri people live the regions where South Sudan and Ethiopia come together.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Suri people live in a land that is hilly, so there are challenges for raising crops. Some of their land is forested.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The primary religion practiced by the Suri people is animism, a religious worldview that natural physical entities including animals, plants and even inanimate objects possess a powerful spiritual essence. There is a small Christian minority among them, but the only Christian materials in their language are some gospel recordings.


What Are Their Needs?

This people group has believers reaching out to them, but they need the JESUS Film and other resources to understand the gospel. As of 2011, there has been a book about their grammar, which can open the door for translating these materials.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual revival among Suri elders, leading to family-based fellowships.
Pray that they will be willing to understand that the God of the Bible has all power, and all worship is due to him alone.
There are few Christian materials for this people group. Pray for the JESUS Film to become easily available in their language.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to flourish among this people group, both in South Sudan and in Ethiopia.


Scripture Prayers for the Suri in Ethiopia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Suri
People Name in Country Suri
Alternate Names Baale; Bale; Kachepo; Kacipo; Saga; Silmamo; Suri; Zilmanu
Population this Country 3,800
Population all Countries 8,100
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 10604
ROP3 Code 100844
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 The Suri (Kacipo-Balesi) area is situated in the very remote southwest of Ethiopia (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region) and in the far east of South Sudan (Jonglei State) respectively (south of the Akobo valley along the Kare valley to the west and the east and on the Boma plateau). The area is hilly, partly mountainous with both narrow and wide valleys. The Suri (Kacipo-Balesi) settlements (smaller villages and hamlets on an altitude of 750 – 1250 m) cover the forested, tropical savanna area loosely.   Source:  Field worker, 2017
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 The Suri (Kacipo-Balesi) area is situated in the very remote southwest of Ethiopia (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region) and in the far east of South Sudan (Jonglei State) respectively (south of the Akobo valley along the Kare valley to the west and the east and on the Boma plateau). The area is hilly, partly mountainous with both narrow and wide valleys. The Suri (Kacipo-Balesi) settlements (smaller villages and hamlets on an altitude of 750 – 1250 m) cover the forested, tropical savanna area loosely..   Source:  Field worker, 2017
Map of Suri in Ethiopia

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 3.47 %)
4.47 %
Ethnic Religions
95.53 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %

Primary Language:  Suri, Kacipo-Bale

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
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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