Ambo in Nigeria

Introduction / History

The Ambo people have a tiny population, surrounded by many much larger people groups. Nonetheless, they retain much of their culture including their traditional language (also known as Ambo).

The Ambo people live in a single village that lies in Taraba State, Nigeria. Their village is on Nigeria’s southeastern border with Cameroon.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The major occupation of this area is agriculture. People grow maize, rice, sorghum, millet, and cassava. Their cash crops include coffee, tea, ground nuts, cotton, and yams. They also herd cattle, sheep, and goats. Some breed rabbits and pigs. Other make a living through pottery, cloth-weaving, dyeing, mat-making, carving, embroidery and blacksmithing.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Ambo speakers are Christians. Local denominations tend to focus more on social issues rather than personal salvation.

What Are Their Needs?

The Ambo people need God’s gracious provision and wisdom as they face the daily challenges of a farming community. Ambo children need greater education opportunities to allow the community to diversify away from their dependence on agriculture.

Surrounded by many larger people groups, there is considerable pressure on the Ambo to adopt other languages and cultures. Community leaders may be interested in language development to preserve their language. Workshops are available that that would expose participants to language vitality and potential short-term development projects.

The Ambo people need God’s word in a language that they can understand. How can they grow in their knowledge of God and in their faith without being nourished by God’s promises and by the example and teachings of Jesus Christ?

Prayer Points

Pray that the Ambo will engage with whatever Scripture that is available to them, for example some may speak Hausa or English and can translate for their communities. Pray that the Holy Spirit gives them understanding despite any language barriers, leading them into all truth.
Pray that all who follow Christ will be channels of God’s eternal blessing and love to their own people and to neighboring people groups. May they be full of God’s Spirit of love, boldness and wisdom.
Pray for those who don’t yet follow Jesus, that God’s Spirit will gently but firmly remove the veil that keeps them from acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord.
Pray a survey can be conducted to help assess the vitality of the language and assist community leaders in deciding if they wish to pursue language development.
Pray Ambo speakers will engage with Scripture that is available in other languages and assess their level of understanding of those Scriptures to determine their translation needs.

Text Source:   Joshua Project