The Nao People Group are part of the Gimira cluster which includes the Dizi, the Tsara, the Benesho and the She. They and the Nao and the others in the Gimira cluster, inhabit the extreme southern and southwestern reaches of the densely forested Kaffa highlands of southwestern Ethiopia. They reside in an altitude of 1500-2500 meters which is not easily accessible. As opposed to the Dizi, the Benesho and others who are migrants to the area, the Nao together with the Tsara were the indigenous inhabitants of the land. They speak Nayi language, an Omotic language which has 58% lexical similarity with Diizin.
The Nao subsist by farming. They supplement their diet through fishing and also gathering fruits and vegetables. The Nao were strong and numerous people and had their own kingdom before their active colonization by the Kaffa Kingdom in the mid 19th century. They are now reduced to a fewer number through the war and slavery they were subjected to. The active "Kaffanization" of their culture and language has played a role in their near extinction as a people group.
They are followers of an ethnic religion.
Ask the Lord to reach these marginalized and geographically inaccessible people for His glory.
Pray to the Lord to send laborers to the field. Pray to the Lord to provide evangelistic resources in their language.
Scripture Prayers for the Nao in Ethiopia.
Profile Source: MANI |
People Name General | Nao |
People Name in Country | Nao |
Alternate Names | |
Population this Country | 18,000 |
Population all Countries | 18,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 2 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 13951 |
ROP3 Code | 107081 |
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 | Scattered in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Decha Awraja, Shoa Bench wereda, Dulkuma village; Sheko wereda, Aybera, Kosa, and Jomdos villages. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
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 | Scattered in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Decha Awraja, Shoa Bench wereda, Dulkuma village; Sheko wereda, Aybera, Kosa, and Jomdos villages.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.41 %) |
10.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
90.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Nayi (18,000 speakers) |
Language Code | noz Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Nao |
Dialect Code | 3146 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Nayi (18,000 speakers) |
Language Code | noz Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Nao |
Dialect Code | 3146 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Nayi |
Primary Language: Nayi
Bible Translation Status: Translation Started
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Profile Source | MANI |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |