The Gurage ethnic group has usually been said to consist of three distinct subgroups, Northern, Eastern and Western. The largest grouping within the Eastern subgroup, known as the Silt 'e, did not consider themselves to be Gurage, and in a referendum in 2000 they voted unanimously to form their own administrative unit, the Silte Zone, within the SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region).
The term Silt 'e is the modern ethnonym of the speakers of the Silt 'e language. Today's Silt 'e comprise the following major historical sub-groups: Azernet, Berbere, Alichcho, Wuriro, Melga (or Ulbareg) and Silt 'i (or Summusilt 'i). The name Silt 'i (for the subgroup) is derived from the alleged ancestor Gen Silt 'i. The modern ethnonym Silt 'e was chosen in memory of this ancestor and as a reminiscence of the old Islamic sultanate of Hadiyya the Silte people claim a historical relation to.
Until the second half of the twentieth century the Silt 'e were considered to be part of the Gurage (but called Adiyya or Hadiyya by the Sebat Bet Gurage). Other designations were Islam or East Gurage (after their language which forms part of the East Gurage language area). After the fall of the Derg regime in 1991 a political movement formed to establish an independent ethnic identity for the Silt 'e, as they now called themselves. Ten years later, the Silt 'e were successful in obtaining an administrative independence from the Gurage Zone in the creation of the Silt 'e Zone.
The Silt 'e people are an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia. They inhabit today's Silt 'e Zone which is part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. A considerable number of Silt 'e live in Addis Ababa, Adama and other cities and smaller urban centres of southern Ethiopia where they make a living as merchants or keepers of petty shops. In the countryside the Silt 'e practice mixed farming and cultivate ensete.
Almost all Silt'e are Muslim. One can expect spiritual opposition when Jesus is presented to a people who regard Christ as foreign and threatening.
The great majority of the Silt 'e population is Muslim.
There is a need for addressing poverty, human development, rural development, food security, capacity building, greater commercialization of agriculture, enhancement of private sector development, and industrial development.
There are wonderful opportunities to show the love of Christ to the people of silti especially in areas of health and education.
There are many local resources that the church can use or give one time support for the indigenous people who can be a insider leader so that he can support him/her self in tent-making ministry. There are many opportunities to work with the youth of Silt 'e because they gather together often. The only recreation for them is to gather and play. Ministries such as football friends, water aid and the like can be helpful. There are opportunities to help the local people with sustainability and independence.
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" Romans 10:14
Scripture Prayers for the Silt'e in Ethiopia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurage_people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silt 'e_people
Profile Source: Tamrat Gezahgen |
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-01-15 |
People Name General | Silt'e |
People Name in Country | Silt'e |
Pronunciation |
SIL-tuh-ay
|
Population this Country | 1,647,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,647,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 33 |
Alternate Names | East Gurage; Ennequor; Guarage; Gurage, East; Silti |
People ID | 11677 |
ROP3 Code | 102817 |
Country | Ethiopia | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 39 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | South of Addis Ababa 150km, Silte administrative zone, Werabey Town Source: Ethnologue 2010 |
Country | Ethiopia |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 39 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | South of Addis Ababa 150km, Silte administrative zone, Werabey Town. Source: Ethnologue 2010 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.09 %) |
2.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
2.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
96.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Silt'e (1,647,000 speakers) |
Language Code | stv Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Silt'e (1,647,000 speakers) |
Language Code | stv Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Silt'e |
Primary Language: Silt'e
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1981-2010) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | God's Story video | God's Story |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Silt'e | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |