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Anuak, Yambo
Anuak, Yambo
Yambo in South Sudan Ethnic People Profile
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Anuak, Yambo in South Sudan
Photo source: Bethany World Prayer Center © 1999.
Used with permission from AdoptAPeople Clearinghouse
Send us a photo of this people. [1]
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Map source: Joshua Project / Global Mapping International
Anuak, Yambo in South Sudan
Text source: Bethany World Prayer Center © 1999.
Country: South Sudan
Used with permission from AdoptAPeople Clearinghouse Continent: Africa
Region: East and Southern Africa
Introduction / History
The Anuak are a river people whose villages are scattered 10/40 Window: No
along the banks and rivers of South Sudan and western Location in Country: Jonglei State, Akobo and Pochalla counties.
Ethiopia. The Anuak of South Sudan live in a grassy region (Source: Ethnologue 2016)
that is flat and virtually treeless. During the rainy season,
this area becomes flooded, so that much of it becomes
Peoples [3] Submit Update:
swampland with various channels of deep water running
through it. People Name in Country: Anuak, Yambo
People Name General: Anuak, Yambo
The Anuak speak a Nilotic language known as Anuak. Unlike
Alternate People Names: Anyuak Anywa
other Nilotic people in the region whose economy is
Anywaa Jambo
centered on raising cattle, the Anuak are herdsmen and
Nuro Yambo
farmers. They are believed to have a common origin with
their northern neighbors, the Shilluk. Also, they share a ROP3 Code: 100395
similar language with their neighbors to the south, the Joshua Project People ID: 10354
Acholi. Indigenous: Yes
Population in Country: 99,000
About 150 years ago, the Anuak occupied a large territory
stretching north into South Sudan. After numerous Population all Countries: 230,000
invasions, however, the Anuak were forced further south LeastReached: No
into their present location along the Baro and Pibor Rivers.
Ethnicity
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17/1/2017 Anuak, Yambo in South Sudan Ethnic People Profile
What are their lives like? Affinity Bloc: SubSaharan Peoples
The Anuak herd sheep and goats and keep small gardens People Cluster: Nilotic
near their homes. They grow most of their own food. When
People Name General: Anuak, Yambo
the soil of a village becomes depleted, the Anuak move to a
nearby fertile site to cultivate new ground. There is no Ethnic Code: NAB62c
cooperation or teamwork between villages in cultivating the Ethnic Relationships: Affinity Bloc > People Cluster > Peoples Ethnicity Tree
land. Consequently, each village remains selfsufficient and
isolated from other Anuak villages.
Language Submit Update:
The Anuak are divided into clans. A strong sense of unity Primary Language: Anuak
exists among clan members since most live in the same Language Code (ISO): anu Ethnologue Listing
village. Intermarriage between clans is common. Total Languages: 1
Anuak villages are thinly populated. These small,
independent villages may be strung out up to twenty miles Religion [4] Submit Update:
apart, oftentimes with swamps and rivers between them. Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Some villages are surrounded by dense reeds and are almost
Major Religions: Buddhism 0.00 %
impossible to reach and quite difficult to attack. The sparse
Christianity 15.00 % (Evangelical: 8.00 %)
distribution of villages, along with the little cooperation that
exists between them, makes each village a selfgoverning Ethnic Religions 85.00 %
political and legal unit. This highly decentralized political Hinduism 0.00 %
system leaves each Anuak village with a strong sense of Islam 0.00 %
separate identity. NonReligious 0.00 %
Other / Small 0.00 %
Every Anuak settlement has a headman who is in charge of Unknown 0.00 %
village ceremonies and possesses the village drums and Christianity Segments: Anglican 0.00 %
ancient Anuak relics. He is given allegiance and respect by
Independent 20.00 %
the villagers who cultivate his land and bring him gifts of
Protestant 80.00 %
meat and fish. If the headman loses the villagers' support by
Orthodox 0.00 %
being a weak leader, he will be expelled from the village,
Other Christian 0.00 %
taking nothing with him but his wives.
Roman Catholic 0.00 %
When an Anuak dies, he is buried either in a shaft in the (Evangelicals distributed across Christianity segments)
center of his homestead, or underground, just a few feet
from his hut. His face is covered with animal skins and the
grave is enclosed by a fence. Each year when the millet Progress Indicators [5]
harvest begins and beer is being brewed, a mortuary feast is Progress Scale: [6] Evangelicals have a modest presence.
held in memory of all who have died that year.
LeastReached: No
What are their beliefs? GSEC Status: Level 2 Less than 2% Evangelical. Initial (localized) church
Almost all of the Anuak are animists (believing that non planting within past 2 years
human objects have spirits) who follow their traditional
ethnic religion. They believe in an allpowerful spirit named
Bible Translation Status Submit Update:
Juok who is regarded as the creator of all things. The Anuak
sacrifice animals to Juok for help when someone is sick or Bible Portions: 19562000
when someone wants revenge. The Anuak also pray directly New Testament: 19621965
to Juok, instead of using mediator spirits or priests to
Complete Bible: 2013
intercede for them.
Possible Bible Sources: Forum of Bible Agencies
The Anuak also practice divination and magic. They call upon World Bible Finder
the cijor (a type of sorcerer) to put curses on others. Such World Christian Resource Directory
sorcerers are often used by elderly people who are unable to
Gospel Go
avenge themselves.
What are their needs?
Ministry Resources [7]
The New Testament has been translated into the Anuak
language. However, only a very small percentage of the Audio Recordings MegaVoice Audio Bible and Stories
Anuak have become Christians. They would greatly benefit Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching (GRN)
from Christian radio broadcasts, and they also need much Audio Recordings Online Scripture (Talking Bibles)
prayer and further evangelistic outreach.
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Anuak
Prayer Points
* Ask the Lord to send forth laborers who will understand
Ministry Activity Register Ministry Activity:
the needs of the Anuak.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the Networking: Visit LinkingGlobalVoices.org for networking possibilities.
missions agencies that are presently working among the
Description: Register your ministry activity among this people group. Contact
Anuak.
the AdoptAPeople Clearinghouse and Unleashed for the
* Pray that God will give the Anuak believers boldness to
Unreached to learn about others that might be focused on this
share Christ with their own people.
people group.
* Pray that qualified linguists will translate Christian
materials into the Anuak language. Data Notes: Data Sources:
* Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking
up the soil through worship and intercession.
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17/1/2017 Anuak, Yambo in South Sudan Ethnic People Profile
* Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Anuak church for Get Involved
the glory of His name!
View Anuak, Yambo in all countries.
Prayer Links
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Anuak, Yambo in South Sudan
Peoples Geographic
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SubSaharan Peoples All Countries
People Cluster Region
Nilotic East and Southern Africa
PeopleGroupAcrossCountries Country
Anuak, Yambo South Sudan
PeoplebyCountry (Profile)
Anuak, Yambo in South Sudan
Religion Language
Ethnic Religions Anuak
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