Goemai in Nigeria

The Goemai have only been reported in Nigeria
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Goemai are located in the Shendam, Gerkawa, and Namu districts in the Plateau State of Nigeria. They are closely related to the Jukun, who live south of them, and the Ngas, who are located north of them. Goemailand is fertile and well watered, and is the basis for the Goemai being an agricultural society. They are tribal, divided into clans, and each clan has its own chief-priest.

The Goemai trace their origin to the son of a Ngas Chief. In the nineteenth century, the Goemai were the largest ethnic group in the lowlands. Goemailand, with Shendam at its center, continues to show much Ngas culture; while the southern centers of Damshin, Shemankar, and Kwande still share the Jukun culture influence from Jukun immigrants who mixed with the southern Goemai. Although the Jukun and Ngas are historically and culturally related to the Goemai, the differences in the three groups' languages confirm their distinctness as separate groups.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Goemai practice subsistence farming, mainly raising ginger, millet, guinea corn, beans, and fruit. They also grow rice, peanuts, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Some cattle are kept because they are fundamental in fertilizing the fields.

The Goemai live in round, mud-walled huts grouped into enclosed family compounds (villages). Each hut has two cylindrical walls. The inner walls serve as a granary, while the space between it and the outer wall are their living quarters.

Each Goemai village has a chief-priest who answers to the tribal chief (king), the supreme governmental and religious leader of the Goemai tribe. Their system of government is quite organized; the chief-priests form an advisory council and act as officials to the king. There are officials who function as military commanders (intermediaries between the Goemai and outside groups), cooks, and barbers (performing the coronation process), to name a few. The chief-priests also perform the actual religious duties.

All Goemai share the custom of filing their top and bottom front teeth. However, many customs and beliefs only pertain to the office of king. For instance, the king may not look upon the Benue River or he will die. Traditionally, upon his death, the king's favorite wife, horse, and servant were buried in the same grave with him. Also, no one may plant their farms until the king's farm is planted. The most striking physical symbol of kingship is the "sacred hairlock" that is held with an ivory pin and disk containing stones that symbolize the various crops his people cultivate.

Customs and beliefs, likewise, are specific to commoners. Boys are circumcised at the age of seven. A ceremony marks the occasion and a special dance takes place around them. The dancers throw themselves on the ground rolling over and over at the boys' feet. Marriage is also important. A man desiring a wife will bring her a mat with cloth rolled inside. She will return it and others, brought by other suitors, to the man of her choice. When the bride-price is paid, the bride is covered in a big cloth and led to the groom's compound. She is followed there by girls crawling along the ground like snakes. Until the marriage is consummated, the bride may not go out or do ordinary work and her food is brought to her.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though the majority of the Goemai are Christians, some still hold to ethnic religionist beliefs which are manifested in most aspects of their daily lives. Some believe in a supreme god and a household god (the god of their particular compound). Divination and cults centering around ancestral spirits and rain, among others, are practiced. Pebbles are cast on the ground making symbols, which determine events. A Goemai will not kill a hawk or a crowned-crane for fear he die or become a fool. They regard the feathers of such birds as symbols of strength and the owl is considered a bird of evil omen.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into Nigeria to the Goemai.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to any missions agencies that are focusing on the Goemai.
Pray for the effective use of the Jesus film in the Goemai language.
Pray that God will give Goemai believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a growing Goemai church for the glory of His name!


Scripture Prayers for the Goemai in Nigeria.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Goemai
People Name in Country Goemai
Alternate Names Ankwai; Ankwe; Gamai; Kemai
Population this Country 418,000
Population all Countries 418,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 11915
ROP3 Code 103412
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Plateau state: Shendam; Nassarawa state: Lafia and Awe LGAs.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Plateau state: Shendam; Nassarawa state: Lafia and Awe LGAs..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
62.00 %
Ethnic Religions
14.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
24.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Goemai (418,000 speakers)
Language Code ank   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Gamai
Dialect Code 2464   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Goemai (418,000 speakers)
Language Code ank   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Gamai
Dialect Code 2464   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Goemai

Primary Language:  Goemai

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2015)
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Goemai Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Tuam D Sabastine 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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