Introduction / History

The Mandya, Manjaco in Guinea-Bissau are best known as the Manjack people. Their name means, "I tell you."
The Manjaco people mainly live in northwestern Guinea-Bissau, though others live in southern Senegal or The Gambia. Some have migrated to France, a country that once held their homeland as a colony.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Like other people from former French African colonies, the Manjaco live in France's urban centers. Often they are in areas inhabited mainly by other Africans. Thus, they experience a certain amount of pan-Africanism. Many do not view themselves as African, but as French. It's common for them to put their identity in being Black because of what they see coming from American popular culture.

The main obstacle might be an unwillingness of God's people to go to them.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Manjaco people hold to traditional religion that centers around the spirits of their ancestors. They believe these ancestral spirits are selfish and vindictive, yet they have power to bring good or bad fortune. During their many rituals Manjacos have been known to demand that the ancestral spirits do them favors in return for the gifts and offerings they bring. They sometimes refer to these spirits as "workers" and the Manjacos are the "employers" who will only pay them with offerings if the spirits produce blessings. The Manjaco people believe that funerals are essential to ensure that these spirits treat them well.
A small number in France have become Roman Catholic.

What Are Their Needs?

The Manjaco people in France need to put their hope in the King of kings, realizing that he is the one who gives them worth and dignity no matter what they may face in their daily lives.

Prayer Points

Pray for loving workers to go to the Manjaco people until there are disciples who make more disciples.
Pray the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Manjaco to understand and to believe the gospel.
Pray for the Lord to bless the Manjaco people with opportunities to thrive economically and spiritually in France.

Scripture Prayers for the Mandyak, Manjaco in France.

References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/13493/PU
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/world/europe/france-racism-universalism.html
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/africa/the-african-diaspora-in-france/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manjack_people
http://www.livedead.org/2015/06/12/upg-the-mandyak-manjaco-of-guinea-bissau/
https://culanth.org/articles/175-the-funeral-and-modernity-in-manjaco
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/world/europe/france-race-george-floyd.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article