Anufo in Ghana

People Name:	Anufo
Country:	Ghana
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	122,000
World Population:	246,000
Primary Language:	Anufo
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	0.72 %
Evangelicals:	0.65 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Guinean
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Anufo people originally began as a group of mercenaries who left Cote d'Ivoire to help the chiefs of two powerful tribes in Ghana during the mid 1700s. Eventually they assimilated into the communities that they once raided! The Anufo trace their roots to an area in present-day Cote D'Ivoire which they call Anou or Ano. Hence, they refer to themselves and their language as Anufo "people of Anu." They are also called Chakossi.

The Anufo in Ghana currently inhabit an area of savannah grassland in the northeastern part of Ghana.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The soil is poor, yet their main occupation is farming. Men and women work together for communal harvests. Markets in the area follow a six day cycle, and they provide social interaction as well as economic activity. People bring their local produce to sell in order to buy such things as soup ingredients (women) or bicycle parts (young men). It is a patrilineal society.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Anufo are primarily Islamic. There are several Anufo churches. They keep many African traditional beliefs, which are blended with their Islamic beliefs. This legend offers an example of how they blend traditional beliefs with Islam. Before a child is born, an ancestral spirit tells Allah all that will happen during his or her lifetime. Each child is born with a special destiny. If he has a good destiny, he will become an ancestor. If his destiny is he can change it through spiritual help. Without this help, his spirit will be wild, and the person's name will be forgotten.

What Are Their Needs?

The Anufo people need to put their faith in the person, Jesus Christ, rather than a religious system.

Prayer Points

Pray for this people group to experience an abundant harvest that will point them to the all-powerful, loving Lord.
Pray for the Anufo people to prosper spiritually through a relationship with Christ.
Pray for Holy Spirit sent workers among the Anufo people.
Pray for a movement to Christ among this people group.