Darwazi in Afghanistan

The Darwazi have only been reported in Afghanistan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Until the beginning of the 20th century, Afghanistan was mainly an affiliation of tribes, held together by intrigue and force of the rulers. Throughout the years, rival chiefs and foreign powers sought to control the major areas. It is home to more than 70 ethnic groups, with the Darwazi composing a tiny fraction of the total population.
The Darwazi live in the town of Darwazi on the banks of the Amu Darya River. We do not know if the Darwazi are named after the town in which they live or whether the town is named after the people. This river forms the border between Afghanistan and its northern neighbors: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The region has a temperate climate with enough precipitation to adequately water the crops. Their language, also called Darwazi, is part of the Indo-Iranian language family.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The economy of Afghanistan is based primarily on farming and raising livestock. While there is little fertile land in the mountains, there are good grazing grounds. As a result, the Darwazi practice a somewhat nomadic lifestyle, moving their herds according to the seasons.
It is thought that the Darwazi, like other groups in the area, have two classes: the lower-class artisans and the upper-class landowners. The main crafts of the artisans are woodworking, weaving, blacksmithing, pottery and basketry. Their products are used by all the village people. Bazaars are important trade centers for both agricultural products and craft items. Traditional handicrafts are widespread, highly developed and often very refined.

The basic unit of the Darwazi community is the village, which is surrounded by farmland and grazing land. The land is owned by the male head of the family, and grazing rights are inherited by his sons. Cooperation is based on kinship ties and relatives are expected to support one another in times of crisis or need.

Houses are usually built on the slopes of hills, but close to streams so that the villagers will have clean water. The size of the house depends on the wealth of the family. Most properties are enclosed by stone walls that divide the property into two sections: one for a living area and the other for livestock. Ethnic relations between the major people groups in Afghanistan have been marked by conflict. Historically, the stronger groups have attempted to dominate the weaker ones.

In addition to class distinctions, the Darwazi practice a division of labor according to sex. Traditionally, both males and females were expected to contribute in the making of a meal. The women provided the bread, which symbolized their responsibilities of farming and gathering the firewood. The men supplied a dairy product, representing their responsibility of herding the animals.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Islam was introduced to Afghanistan during the 7th century with the Arab invasions. By the 9th century, the Darwazi had converted to Islam. Today, the Darwazi are completely Sunni Muslim. As Muslims, the Darwazi believe in one god (Allah), daily prayers, almsgiving, fasting and making a pilgrimage to Mecca during one's lifetime.


What Are Their Needs?

Their homeland is marked by a lack of adequate medical care.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to bring a fair and lasting peace to Afghanistan.
Pray that the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Darwazi towards the gospel.
Pray for the Lord to speak to Darwazi elders and family leaders through dreams and visions, drawing them to the only Savior.
Pray for God to raise prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.


Scripture Prayers for the Darwazi, Badakhshani in Afghanistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Darwazi
People Name in Country Darwazi, Badakhshani
Natural Name Darwazi
Pronunciation dare-VOZ-ee
Alternate Names Badakhshani
Population this Country 17,000
Population all Countries 17,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11510
ROP3 Code 102467
ROP25 Code 301968
ROP25 Name Darwazi
Country Afghanistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 10  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Northernmost tip of Afghanistan, Darwaz town on Amu Darya River. Possibly in Tajikistan   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Country Afghanistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 10  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Northernmost tip of Afghanistan, Darwaz town on Amu Darya River. Possibly in Tajikistan.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Map of Darwazi, Badakhshani in Afghanistan Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Religion Subdivision: Sunni
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Dari (17,000 speakers)
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Dari (17,000 speakers)
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Dari

Primary Language:  Dari

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1974)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1982-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Dari Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Safauddin Badakhshi - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: Web research. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024