Bantu Somali in United States


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
More extensive map at peoplegroups.info

Introduction / History

Bantu is a major cluster of Black African peoples from southern and eastern Africa. Some of these people were taken as slaves to Somalia by Arab Muslims in the 1800s, and generations later they became known as Somali Bantu. Ethnically they are not Somali, and they speak a non-Somali language.

During the 1990s, civil war raged in Somalia, and these despised people had their land taken from them, many were killed, and women were raped. They fled to refugee camps in neighboring Kenya where they languished for roughly 10 years before some of them were sent to start new lives in the United States. The first Somali Bantu people arrived in the US in the early 2000s. They are still adjusting to life in America.


Where Are they Located?

Most Somali Bantu live in Somalia or Kenya, but a few are able to come to the United States. They live in cities like Atlanta, Columbus, Salt Lake City, and Pittsburgh where their skills as farmers are almost useless.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Efforts to re-settle the Somali Bantus have been difficult. They don't have the job skills or education needed for America's economy. They have needed housing, which isn't affordable except in depressed areas like Pittsburgh, where there is already a serious problem with unemployment.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Somali Bantu are marginally Sunni Muslim. A few are Roman Catholic. Their spiritual lives are affected by traditional animistic religion.


What Are Their Needs?

The Somali Bantu desperately need someone to help them until they are ready to stand on their own feet. They need language and job skills. Believers who are able to help them with these needs would be very welcome.


Prayer Points

Pray that their hearts will be opened to the gospel as their physical needs are met.
Pray for peace and prosperity for the Somali Bantu, and that this displaced people would find their Heavenly Father.
Pray that the Somali Bantu will encounter the generosity and love of Christ through his followers in Kenya and the United States.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to birth a cascading discipleship movement among the Somali Bantu people in the US.


Scripture Prayers for the Somali Bantu in United States.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/20784/US
http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2013/09/somali-bantu-people-hardworking.html
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/a-number-of-somali-bantu-refugees-have-resettled-in-pittsburgh-but-how-are-they-adjusting/Content?oid=1953072
http://orvillejenkins.com/peoples/somalibantu.html
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/somali-bantu/
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/latest/2003/5/3eccda802/somali-bantus-leave-america-hope-new-life.html
https://wiki.colby.edu/display/AY298B/United+States+Resettlement
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4542221
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weYnP97LeOs


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Somali Bantu
People Name in Country Somali Bantu
Natural Name Bantu Somali
Pronunciation BAN-too
Alternate Names Jareer
Population this Country 54,000
Population all Countries 1,080,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 20784
ROP3 Code 103458
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Resettled in a number of American cities and towns, including Columbus, OH.   Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Bantu
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Resettled in a number of American cities and towns, including Columbus, OH..   Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Bantu

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
3.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
96.50 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Maay (54,000 speakers)
Language Code ymm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Maay (54,000 speakers)
Language Code ymm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Maay

Primary Language:  Maay

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2006-2024)
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 Maay Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Emmanuel Adiba - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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