The Sama people live on the southern slopes of the Saruwaged mountain range in Morobe province. The seven Sama villages are situated on level areas of the mountains.
The people live off the produce from their gardens: taro, sweet potato, greens, coconuts, bananas and other kinds of fruit. The Sama people also plant betelnut, tobacco and coffee for cash crops.
The Sama villages are between 700 and 1300 meters above sea level. Roads are just starting to be built and three villages can now be reached by road. Houses are built on posts one to one and half meters off the ground. The walls are constructed with either woven bamboo or handmade planks. The roofs are thatched with broad bamboo leaves or grass.
The Lutheran church entered the area in the 1930s and since then has established a congregation in every village. When the church came in the people left behind their old ways of fighting. The Lutheran mission set up schools that taught Kâte, a language from the eastern coast, to the children until the 1960s. The Bible and liturgy books are available in Kâte and are still used in the church along with Tok Pisin, the trade language. The younger generation doesn't understand Kâte, the older generation has low proficiency in Tok Pisin and there are no scriptures or liturgy available in Sama, so all three languages are used during church services.
The Sama people are dissatisfied with their situation but as they don't have the Scripture in their own language they don't gain an understanding of God's promises for the believer's everyday life.
Scripture Prayers for the Nimi in Papua New Guinea.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Nimi |
People Name in Country | Nimi |
Alternate Names | |
Population this Country | 3,300 |
Population all Countries | 3,300 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 5 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 13398 |
ROP3 Code | 107328 |
ROP25 Code | 306095 |
ROP25 Name | Nimi |
Country | Papua New Guinea | ||
Region | Australia and Pacific | ||
Continent | Australia | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Morobe province: upper Erap river, south of Saruwaged range. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Papua New Guinea |
Region | Australia and Pacific |
Continent | Australia |
10/40 Window | No |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Morobe province: upper Erap river, south of Saruwaged range.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 21.00 %) |
90.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
10.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Sama (3,300 speakers) |
Language Code | nis Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Sama (3,300 speakers) |
Language Code | nis Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Sama |
Primary Language: Sama
Bible Translation Status: Translation Started
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
None reported |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |