About the Yao

The Yao of Tanzania live in the south, along the border of Mozambique. They are mainly peasants who raise animals, have small businesses, and live in clans. Their chiefs are Mataka, Kanduru, and Mtalika. Traditions are passed on during initiation ceremonies. Women receive sexual instruction before marriage and initiation rites at the beginning of their first pregnancy.

Islam among the Yao

Around 1800, Arabs started slave trading in the Yao region. The Yao captured people from neighboring tribes and sold them to the Arabs. Through the slave trade, the Yao started to practice Islam; currently, about 95% of the Yao of Tanzania are Muslims. Islam has become a central part of Yao culture; when a Yao turns his back on Islam, he cuts himself off from his tribe and clan. He is completely abandoned, will not be given any help, and will be threatened in many ways to make him return to his original Islamic faith.

Christianity was Hated in Tanzania

The abolition of the slave trade in Tanzania in 1873 did not please the Yao and resulted in negative relations with their colonial rulers. Christianity, as the religion of the colonial rulers, was hated, despite the introduction of medical care and education by Christian missionaries. The Yao did not allow their children to attend the schools, fearing that they would start eating pork or become Christians, who were considered to be uncivilized. After many years this situation changed, and today relations are much better. Muslims may meet with Christians for events such as burials or weddings.

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Map pf Tanzania

Churches among the Yao

Anglicans and Catholics first spread the gospel among the Yao. Today, there are several evangelical and Pentecostal churches, many of which were established by the witness of missionaries and local Christian tradesmen. These churches spread the gospel through open-air meetings, personal witnessing, and Christian radio ministry in the Yao language. Some Yao are now pastors and Christian workers in Tanzania.

Pray for the Yao peoples of Tanzania:

* Some Yao men are especially lazy; some are unfaithful to their wives. Pray that Yao men will take a godlier role in their families and society.

* The Yao do not consider schooling to be essential. Pray for a change in worldview about education among the Yao.

* The sexual instruction given during initiation rites and television often lead to poor ethics and promiscuity. Pray for a change that leads to a more moral lifestyle among Yao youth.

* New believers often find it hard to have their basic needs met, encouraging them to return to Islam. Pray that the young Yao churches will develop a greater ability to work together and help believers.

* Christian radio service is limited in time and frequency. Pray for more workers and financial support, so that the ministry can be more extensive and bring listeners to Christ.

Background on Tanzania (World Factbook)

Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. The formation of a government of national unity between two leading parties succeeded in minimizing electoral tension in 2010.

Economy of Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. GDP growth in 2009-10 was a respectable 6% per year due to high gold prices and increased production.

Statistics on Tanzania

Population: 42,746,620 (July 2011 est.) -- see note below. World Rank #31

Life Expectancy at Birth: 52.85. World Rank #205

Ethnic groups: mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

Religions: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages

Literacy: 69.4% male: 77.5% female: 62.2%

School life expectancy: 9 years

Population Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

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A short introduction to Mesange, Tanzania

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| · Population: 350,000

Since the early 1900s in the city of Kondoa and the surrounding areas, more and more Rangi have turned to Islam. When the British took control of Tanzania in 1920, the Kondoa region was already 90% Muslim. Only the Rangi in the Haubi Valley refused Islam. After some debate among the local chieftains, in 1937 the Rangi in Haubi became Catholic and built an imposing cathedral. Since then the 90% Muslim, almost 10% Catholic ratio has basically not changed. Although there have been evangelical congregations for several decades in the area, there are few Rangi evangelicals.


The majority of the Rangi population live in villages and their identity is often wrapped up in village life. For a long time few non-Rangi Tanzanians wanted to live in Kondoa and the 150 surrounding Rangi villages. The Rangi were often unloved and mistrusted by many because of their reputation of being active with evil spirits and witchcraft. Even today some Rangi are brought to trial for ritual murders associated with black magic. However, in the last ten years larger numbers of Tanzanians have started to live in Kondoa with a noticeable rise in the number of cars and televisions. Mobile phones abound, business is booming, and hospitals and schools are being built.

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Map pf Tanzania

A Rangi language Bible translation project began in 1996 and the translation is progressing well. Other work to help poor families is also under way. In September 2006 some local believers opened a new school in the city. It is hoped that there will be good communication between all the groups, that old historical prejudices will be overcome, and that social as well as spiritual development will continue.

Prayer starters:

* Pray for the unity among the Christians that Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-26 to become reality in the area. Muslims have sometimes pointed out that the believers have often been divided.

* Pray for courage, creativity and wisdom for the Rangi Christians as they proclaim the Messiah to their Muslim neighbours.

* Pray for positive economical development, and that the Rangi will not forget God as they seek better economic conditions.

Jesus in the Qur’an

The Qur'an affirms certain beliefs about Jesus that are actually true biblically: He was born of a virgin, he performed miracles of healing the blind, lepers, and raising the dead, he had disciples and experienced rejection from his people. Jesus is also given many great titles in the Qur’an including “Servant of God”, “Prophet and Apostle of God”, “Lord of God”, “Spirit from God and “One of the Righteous” . He is called “The Messiah eleven times in the Qur’an but there is no explanation of what this means. He is most commonly called “Isa, son of Mary” in the Qur’an, emphasising his virgin birth, but it is clearly stated that this is not “God in the flesh” (He is no more than a prophet), not “Son of God” and he did not die on the cross. Even if he had died on the cross the Qur’an denies the possibility of an atoning death, declaring three times that on Judgment Day, noone can bear the sins of another! So although there are some similarities to the Jesus we know from the Bible, the Qur'an also presents some strong theological barriers for Muslims to come to know him as the Messianic King sent to bring forgiveness of sin and deliverance from the power of death, Satan and injustice.

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Colonialism in Zanzibar, Tanzania

After being colonised by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the island became Arabic once again in the 18th century. A sultanate was created under the supremacy of the Sultan of Oman, who transferred the seat of his government to Zanzibar. These events marked the beginning of new developments on the island, both for good and evil.

Zanzibar became the main regional commercial centre for all sorts of merchandise, including slaves. Stonetown, the capital of Zanzibar, had a huge slave market, where Arabs sold the African slaves captured on the continent to slave traders from all over the world. During the same period, and because of the island's favourable climate, spice plants began to be cultivated in large plantations. Zanzibar became the most important producer of spices (especially cloves) in the world for nearly two centuries. Because of this commercial success and a progressive government under the sultan, Zanzibar became the first African nation with electricity and even the first in Africa to have an elevator!

After a period of German and later English colonisation the island obtained its independence in 1963. Within one year, however, a revolt removed the Sultan of Oman from power. In 1964, Zanzibar and the continental (mainland) region of Tanganyika united to form a new nation: the United Republic of Tanzania. Today, however, there are more and more voices demanding complete emancipation from the continent.

Island paradise of Zanzibar, Tanzania

Apart from its cloves, the island is known as a tourist paradise. Each year, white beaches and palm trees attract thousands of tourists from all over the world. Stonetown has kept the charm of its Arabic past. Narrow streets between multi-storey stone houses and the famous centuries old carved wooden gates show aspects of Zanzibar's eventful history.

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Map pf Tanzania

Even though Zanzibar has been dominated by Islam for centuries, Christians have been able to lay the foundations for a solid local church, and to plant several Christian fellowships. There are Lutheran, Anglican, Catholic and independent churches, which have the freedom to celebrate services and to witness. It is true that they have not had a lot of influence on the public life in Zanzibar so far, but they have survived for more than two centuries, despite the dominance of Islam. However, witnessing is viewed as proselytisation and frowned on by the authorities. Several people who have been deported from Zanzibar for doing so, and this really hampers the Church from expanding. On Pemba where radical Islam reigns it is even more difficult. On the mainland it is quite different, and there is much greater freedom, but sadly nominalism dampens the opportunities far too often.

Prayer for Tanzania:

* Pray for God to strengthen and equip the Christians in Zanzibar, so that they will be able to live out their faith and witness.

* Pray for a targeted and culturally relevant witness of the church in this society completely dominated by Islam, despite the challenges and dangers.

* Pray for more evangelistic literature in Swahili.

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