Gengle in Nigeria

People Name:	Gengle
Country:	Nigeria
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	7,100
World Population:	7,100
Primary Language:	Gengle
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	5.00 %
Evangelicals:	3.00 %
Scripture:	Translation Started
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Adamawa-Ubangi
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Gengle people are a subgroup of the Mumuye people of Nigeria and Cameroon. Although 29 percent of Mumuye are Christian, there are no known followers of Christ among the Gengle subgroup. A large number live in Nigeria's Adamawa state.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Gengles are hardworking people. They depend on cattle herding and farming for their livelihood. Millet is the staple crop in the region, and they use it to make flour and beer.

During their yam festival, the Gengle people dig up, roast and eat part of their yam harvest. They have wrestling contests, loud drum music and dances. There is also a religious aspect of the yam festival.

What Are Their Beliefs?

On the first morning of the multi-day yam festival, families make an altar in honor of their ancestors, the earth god Ala, and the yam god, Ihejioku. They place a new yam, some white chalk and a chicken on the altar.

The religion of the Gengle involves a "totemic" perspective, a system of belief in which they think each human has a spiritual connection or a kinship with another physical being, such as an animal or plant. The Gengle people make offerings and sacrifices to family ancestors to appease them and to thank them, especially during harvest times.

The dancing of bush cow masks is a ritual of a secret society. The main purpose is to ask the ancestors who are associated with the bush cow for abundance and agricultural fertility. They carve wooden statues to represent the dead and place them near the skull of the deceased person. They believe that a person's spirit can then enter the statue and be transported into the house. From the home, that spirit is involved in the daily lives of the living.

What Are Their Needs?

The Gengle people need protection from violent men in their part of Nigeria. Innocent people are at the mercy of those who bring violence and destruction.

Prayer Points

Pray for peace in the Gengle homeland.
Pray the Lord will begin to give these people an interest in a sin-forgiving Savior.
Pray they will understand from the heart and the head that Jesus is truth.
Pray the Gengle tribe will be completely delivered from fear of created things.
Pray that the believers from nearby tribes will be led to tell the Gengle about Jesus, who he is and what he has provided for them.