The Teda Peoples of the Central Sahara

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The Teda are known for being extremely suspicious of outsiders, even holding reservations within their own society. They are known for their strength of character, individually and as a society. They have maintained a distinct independent identity and survived in this formidable region for hundreds of years.

Where the Teda peoples Live

Most of the 30,000 Teda people live in the remote and isolated area of the Tibesti mountains, located in north-western Chad, north-eastern Niger and southern Libya. This area is surrounded by miles of the arid Saharan Sea of sand dunes and rocks. There are no paved roads into this area, but desert routes, which take days to negotiate depending on the weather conditions. Some have migrated for employment or education to live in centres such as Ndjamena, the capital of Chad; Sebha, a desert town in Libya; and around Bilma in Niger.

To be Teda is to be Muslim

In recent years the Teda have played a key role in Chadian politics, in the 1960s spearheading a rebel coalition of northern Muslims, which contributed to a civil unrest which has lasted on and off for 30 years.

The Teda are thought to be one of the last groups to be Islamicised in the Sahara. Recently they have been influenced by those returning from other lands encouraging a more stringent practise of Islam. Some of the Teda follow a few of the practises of more ancient religious beliefs, which involve the appeasement and worship of mountain spirits. Many are retiscent to travel anywhere alone in hours of darkness because of the fear of demons.

For the Teda, to be Teda is to be Muslim, and to consider being anything else, difficult to imagine or accept. Rejection from family and persecution will affect those who accept Christ. The Teda are an unreached people group and need to hear the word of God.

Prayer Guide for the Teda peoples

* Pray that the unreached Teda people in this remote part of the earth, will hear, see and receive His salvation. (Psalm 98:3: Isaiah 52:10)

* Pray that the bondage to the spirit world would be broken, and that the Teda would know in their inheritance in Christ. (Psalm 72:9a; Isaiah 43:19-21, Romans 8:38,39)

* Pray that whole families will come to Christ, that fear will not hold people back from choosing to follow Jesus.

* Pray that a Teda expression in the body of Christ will come into being. Pray for God’s sovereign protection to be upon those who come to Christ.