Namat in Papua New Guinea

People Name:	Namat
Country:	Papua New Guinea
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	400
World Population:	400
Primary Language:	Namat
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	95.00 %
Evangelicals:	22.00 %
Scripture:	Translation Needed
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	No
People Cluster:	New Guinea
Affinity Bloc:	Pacific Islanders
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Namat people occupy Mibini village about 14 kilometers south of Morehead Station. Mibini residents reported that it was once three villages, but due to deaths from sorcery and other causes, the people came together to form one village, choosing Namat as the common language. The Namat say they often mix languages. It is reportedly hard for them to differentiate languages any more. The Namat people cultivate gardens on the plains near the Morehead River. Their diet consists of yam, taro, sweet potato, sago, greens, fruits such as coconuts, bananas, pineapples, and papayas. They also fish and hunt deer and wallaby and raise chickens. They occasionally sell some of their garden produce, meat and fish in Morehead.

The Namat people build their houses on poles, raised about 6 to 10 feet above the ground. The roofs and walls are made of bark. There are Seventh Day Adventist and United Church congregations in Mibini. Most of the people would call themselves Christians, but there is a fair amount of syncretism. Sorcery continues to be very actively practiced in the village.