Indo-Pakistani Gujarati in Ethiopia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

For hundreds of years there has been trade between Ethiopia and India. Much of this trade began during the Ethiopian-based Axumite Kingdom. Centuries later this connection was reinforced when the Portuguese and later British imperialists brought Indian soldiers to Ethiopia. There were Indians who served as teachers and businessmen, but during the communist era in the 1970s and 1980s, Ethiopia embraced a policy of "Ethiopianization" where teaching and business positions went to the local people. Most of these Indians left during that time.


What Are Their Lives Like?

After communism fell in the early 1990s, Indian teachers and businessmen returned. There are not that many of them, but they are largely Gujarati. They are involved with higher education and engineering. Gujarati own Indian restaurants and shops in Ethiopia. Today the Ethiopians hold the Gujarati and other Indians in high esteem. The majority of the Gujarati are Hindus regardless of their location in the world. The Gujarati diaspora is made up of people from the Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaisya castes. Brahmin families usually prefer their members to be IT specialists, medical doctors or high- level businessmen. A high percentage of the Gujarati are from the Kshatriya, the military caste, though they are much more likely to be in the business arena. One of the Vaishya castes, the Banias, are another major sector of the Gujarati diaspora.


They are usually Hindu, but a significant minority is Muslim.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Gujarati in diaspora serve the great god of mammon but hold to traditional Gujarati Hindu beliefs and practices as well. Those beliefs and practices will differ widely according to details of caste and family background, and some will be deeply concerned and committed related to their traditional ways. Traditional gods and modern gurus compete for attention, with the 19th century-origin Swaminarayan movement continuing to grow and draw Gujarati involvement.


What Are Their Needs?

In many countries where there are Gujarati communities, there are no missionary agencies focusing taking Christ to them. The Bible is available in their language, but the Gujarati must see Christianity lived out. There will be obstacles to those who want to take Christ to these highly unreached Hindus. As it stands, there are very few who will dare to take that step.


Prayer Points

Pray for an intense spiritual hunger among these Hindus that will draw them into the loving arms of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Gujarati in Ethiopia.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to Christ among Gujaratis throughout East Africa and Ethiopia that will result in them experiencing the intense blessings of Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Gujarati, Indo-Pakistani in Ethiopia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Gujarati
People Name in Country Gujarati, Indo-Pakistani
Natural Name Indo-Pakistani Gujarati
Pronunciation goo-jah-RAH-tee
Alternate Names Bajania; Gujarani; Indo-Pakistani; Karana; Parsi; Shahinshahi; Zarabe; Zardasht; Zarushti
Population this Country 3,700
Population all Countries 3,464,000
Total Countries 29
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11982
ROP3 Code 103544
ROP25 Code 302844
ROP25 Name Gujarati
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)
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)
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
2.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
69.00 %
Islam
29.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Gujarati (3,700 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Gujarati (3,700 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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 Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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