Jola-Lala, Lehar in Senegal
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| People Name: | Jola-Lala, Lehar |
| Country: | Senegal |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 20,000 |
| World Population: | 20,000 |
| Primary Language: | Laalaa |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 10.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 1.50 % |
| Scripture: | Translation Started |
| Ministry Resources: | No |
| Jesus Film: | No |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | Atlantic-Jola |
| Affinity Bloc: | Sub-Saharan Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Lehar are an agricultural people living in the west of Senegal near to the coast. They raise millet, peanuts, and beans as well as a variety of fruit trees. The Lehar live in square mud brick houses, clustered together in enclosed compounds. They are part of the larger Cangin people groups, originally all speaking one language. For various reasons, over the centuries, they split into their different ways and now have distinct, separate languages.
Christianity came to the Lehar in the early 1800s, but in the last 40 years the area has become largely Muslim. Desertification is causing the water table to drop each year and water is becoming more and more scarce. Spiritually most Lehar who practice Islam or Catholicism still retain many of their traditional animistic beliefs. It is these beliefs that need to be challenged with the Gospel.