Yangben in Cameroon

Introduction / History

The Yangben live in the savanna plains and are agriculturalists. They one of the Mbam language communities.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Their income comes from the sales of vegetables and fruits. They also sell yams, manioc, plantain, macabo and taro in the neighboring village markets. They live in mud brick or concrete blockhouses with tin roofs. Some of the houses near the main road have electricity, while the other use wood as the main energy and fuel.

Stories play a far more significant role than simple entertainment among the Yangben people. Storytelling is a common way to relay vital information. This time-honored method will be utilized to reach people with God's Word and address the most pressing spiritual issues.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Generations of Yangben people cling to traditional beliefs rooted in a fear of evil spirits. The fear of sorcery is prevalent, and the issue of sorcery is regularly raised at times of misfortune. The ongoing struggle is the power people attribute to the spirit realm.

What Are Their Needs?

Though a large majority of people in Yangben communities may attend church or profess Christianity, they lack a foundation in God's Word. Because of the area's multilingual nature, church leaders tend to conduct services in French, the national language. As a result, churchgoers often fall back into familiar traditional beliefs, and the next generation repeats the cycle. Truths from God's Word in the mother tongue can tear down traditional strongholds.

Prayer Points

Pray for a powerful spiritual hunger among the Yangben people that will result in salvation and discipleship.
Pray the word of God will soon become widely known and taught in their homes and churches.
Pray for the Lord to bless them with an abundant harvest as a testimony of his power and goodness.
Pray for the Lord to raise up excellent story tellers to teach the word of God in Yangben villages.

Text Source:   Joshua Project