Wanji in Tanzania

The Wanji have only been reported in Tanzania
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Wanji people live in southwest Tanzania in the southern mountains of Iringa Region between the Bena, Sangu and Kinga people. Some live on the Usangu wetlands near the village of Mahongale. Some Wanji may attend the secondary (high school) at Makambako, a trading center in the area. There is a corn (maize) grinding mill, waddle and eucalyptus tree project and farm for maize (corn) at this former Lutheran school. Also a local brick factory/kiln.

One of the early Gospel messengers was Sam John Nierendra. One of the people who became a Christian was Samwaili from the mountain village of Msalimwani. The women of this village still wear the skins of animals to ward off the biting cold of mountain mornings. They worship spirits of their ancestors and fear the leopard that stalks at night.

Samwaili attended the Tanzania Bible School where he studied hard. After graduating he traveled the Usangu plains telling folks about his Savior and established other churches. ( 2001 report by David Caskey who lived in Wanji area) In time some of the Bible was provided for this group, 1979-1985. This language needs to be reassessed to see why the translation work stopped and if more translation work is needed for this isolated group. Some appear to have moved down out of the mountains on to the Usangu plains. Their interaction with other larger near by groups will need to be checked to see if they can now use any of these groups' Scriptures. Lutherans, Anglicans and Presbyterians work in this general area as well as perhaps some RC from Njombe.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Wanji in Tanzania.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Wanji
People Name in Country Wanji
Alternate Names Vwanji
Population this Country 57,000
Population all Countries 57,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 15856
ROP3 Code 110676
ROP25 Code 308717
ROP25 Name Wanji
Country Tanzania
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Iringa region: Makete district, Kipengere mountain range. West of Bena [bez], south of Sangu [sbp], north of Kinga [zga] language areas.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Tanzania
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Iringa region: Makete district, Kipengere mountain range. West of Bena [bez], south of Sangu [sbp], north of Kinga [zga] language areas..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 12.00 %)
35.00 %
Ethnic Religions
65.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Vwanji (57,000 speakers)
Language Code wbi   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Wanji
Dialect Code 1042   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Vwanji (57,000 speakers)
Language Code wbi   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Wanji
Dialect Code 1042   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Vwanji

Primary Language:  Vwanji

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1979–2014)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2019)
Bible-Complete No
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Vwanji Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Vwanji YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Vwanji YouVersion Bibles
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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