Most Zaza people consider themselves Kurdish; they have much in common with the Zaza Kurds. However, the difference is that the Zaza language is like the north-Caspian (Armenian) spoken language and belongs to the Indo-European language family.
Zaza society is traditionally patriarchal, and their traditions and history are passed on orally. The Zaza people remain largely illiterate. They live in valleys and mountains as nomadic people, shepherding their livestock and relying on agricultural products.
The primary religion of the Zazas is Sunni Islam, but the Zaza people consider themselves to be Alevi Muslims (a Shia sect of Islam), a mystical faith with strong shamanistic and Zoroastrian roots. There is a very complicated, even sacred, relationship between Islam and the natural world.
Secularism makes Zaza people change their religious structure nowadays. Their spiritual leaders no longer have power in Zaza society and the community cannot provide the individual needs. Zaza have a lot of hidden marriage problems and dysfunctional family relations. This often causes the Zaza people to cry out to God for help. God does not want this small ethnic group to miss his mission. They need to hear the message of the only redeemer even though they cannot read the Bible and depend on learning the stories.
Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Zaza people for Jesus and that in God’s sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Zaza people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Zaza people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.
Scripture Prayers for the Zaza-Dimli in Türkiye (Turkey).
Burnett, David. Clash of Worlds. London UK: Monarch Pub., 1990.
Hiebert, Paul G. Anthropological Insights for Missionaries Michigan, USA: Baker Academic, 1995
Kaya, Mehmed S. The Zaza Kurds of Turkey: A Middle Eastern minority in a Globalised So
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Zaza-Dimli |
People Name in Country | Zaza-Dimli |
Pronunciation |
ZAH-zah DIM-lee
|
Alternate Names | Dimili; Dimili Kurd; Kurd; Southern Zaza; Zaza |
Population this Country | 1,316,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,316,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 26 |
People ID | 11560 |
ROP3 Code | 102613 |
ROP25 Code | 304412 |
ROP25 Name | Kurd |
Country | Türkiye (Turkey) | ||
Region | Asia, Central | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 50 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Bingöl, Diyarbakir, and Elazig provinces: primarily Cermik, Gerger, Egil, Siverek, Dicle, Palu, Bingöl, and Hani cities. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Türkiye (Turkey) |
Region | Asia, Central |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 50 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Bingöl, Diyarbakir, and Elazig provinces: primarily Cermik, Gerger, Egil, Siverek, Dicle, Palu, Bingöl, and Hani cities.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
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 |
99.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
1.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Zazaki, Southern (1,316,000 speakers) |
Language Code | diq Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Zazaki, Southern (1,316,000 speakers) |
Language Code | diq Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Zazaki, Southern |
Primary Language: Zazaki, Southern
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2018-2021) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
---|---|---|
Film / Video | Gospel stories in Zaza Dimli | General / Other |
Film / Video | Gospel videos | General / Other |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Scripture Earth Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Zazaki, Southern | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Zazaki, Southern | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | CharlesFred - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group location: Field worker. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |