Kanembu in Nigeria


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Between the sands of the Sahara and the shores of Lake Chad live the Kanembu. For over a thousand years the Kanem-Bornu Empire exerted its influence over central North Africa. Its influence covered eastern Nigeria and Niger, the northern half of Chad and Libya. It traded with Egypt and sponsored Islamic schools as far away as Alexandria. Its camel caravans reached the Muslim holy cities in the Arabian Peninsula. Until the beginning of the 1900s and the French conquest of this area, this empire was the major power in the heart of the north central Africa. Today the Kanembu people are one group of the descendants of this great empire, and their sultans and traditional rules are still more influential than government authorities. They are Chad's merchant tribe, with 75-80% of all merchants in Chad coming from this group, making them one of Chad's wealthiest groups.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Their sultans and traditional rulers are still more influential than government authorities. They live in mud brick houses, with their culture and clothing much the same as in ancient times. Their lifestyle has changed very little through the centuries, except they now have water pumps, vehicles, sewing machines and other modern conveniences. The younger generation is moving to cities in hopes of finding better jobs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

For centuries they have been Muslim, but traditional African beliefs are mixed with Islam. The Kanembu depend on spiritism to meet daily problems.


What Are Their Needs?

There may be a very few followers of Jesus among the Kanembu, but even that is doubtful.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christians in other tribes to take the message of Christ to the Kanembu people.
Pray for those believers the Lord will soon call to himself from this tribe. Pray they will live holy lives and will learn to live in the power of God's Spirit. Pray this ancient tribe will be privileged to hear accurately who Jesus truly is, the Son of God, the only way to the Father.


Scripture Prayers for the Kanembu in Nigeria.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kanembu
People Name in Country Kanembu
Pronunciation kuh-NEM-boo
Alternate Names Kanembou; Karkawu; Kenembu
Population this Country 2,400
Population all Countries 1,031,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12489
ROP3 Code 104570
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kanembu (2,400 speakers)
Language Code kbl   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Nguri
Dialect Code 11508   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kanembu (2,400 speakers)
Language Code kbl   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Nguri
Dialect Code 11508   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kanembu

Primary Language:  Kanembu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2001)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus film: view in Kanembu Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source James Lane 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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