Panawa in Nigeria

People Name:	Panawa
Country:	Nigeria
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	5,600
World Population:	5,600
Primary Language:	Panawa
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	6.00 %
Evangelicals:	3.00 %
Scripture:	Translation Started
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Benue
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Panawa people live in central Nigeria, in the Toro Local Government area of Bauchi State. They originally lived in five villages on one large hill named Owa Panawa, just in front of their present settlement. In 1948, all five villages moved to the plains. The language is Panawa. Some English is spoken, but Hausa is widespread. The closest town (approximately 5 kms) is Tilden Fulani.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Panawa are exogamous clans. For example, clans from 2 and 3 must marry from clans 1, 4 and 5. Little is known about the day to day lives of the Panawa people.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Panawa people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. Like most African Muslims, the Panawa people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. The often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

Their foremost need is the gospel of Jesus Christ. They need the power of the Nigerian government to protect everyone from Islamic militants.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Panawa people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driven by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among them to begin this decade.