MUNDU
The Mundu believe they originated in West Africa and they migrated eastward during the dry seasons, in groups or waves. As the first groups arrived, the leaves of the mahogany trees around them fell and covered over their tracks so that the people behind them lost the route. In this way some Mundu travelled only as far as Zaire while the leaders reached Sudan and settled there. Linguistically, Mundu is closely related to some West African languages, giving more evidence that they originated there.
The war in Sudan has forced some Mundu to move south, back into Zaire. However, the current instability in Zaire may mean further displacement. The Mundu have always lived under one foreign government or another. Consequently, they can feel threatened, but generally have a good self-image and are proud of their culture and language.
New ideas are attractive to the Mundu; in Sudan they adopted customs from their neighbors, the Azande. In recent years it has become apparent to older Mundus that their traditional culture is not being taught as carefully to their children as it was in the past. Increased mobility and Western influence is slowly changing their traditional village lifestyle where elders would be the primary means, outside the immediate family, of passing on customs and laws.
The Mundu are small farmers. The ground is fertile and the rain is plentiful and so, despite dislocation and war, they are able to survive on the food they grow. However, they live at a subsistence level and lack utilities like electricity, clean water supplies, transport, schools and especially medical care. Infant mortality is high and basic medicines are not easily available.
In both Zaire and Sudan the trade languages have priority in the education system. The first missionaries came to the Mundu in the 1920s, but only learned and used the trade language. Mundu is spoken in the home and remains the ""heart language"" of the people. Consequently, the Mundu are happy to have their language written down and their culture strengthened. They are excited to have literature in their own language and Christians especially want a hymn book and Scripture."
- Population (year): 41.8 million (1995)
- Major Religion: Christian
- Percent Christian: 95.9%
- Percent Evangelical: 21%
- Openness to Missionaries: Open"
1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL?
Ratio of pastors/evangelists to population: 1 pastor or evangelist for every 1 600 persons
(total pastors and evangelists - 40)
Ratio of missionaries to population: 1 missionary for every 12 900 persons
(total missionaries - 2)
Who is Jesus Christ to them?
100% Believe Jesus is the Son of God and are nominally Christians
10-20% Believe in the Son of God and have accepted Him as their saviour
0% Believe Jesus is a Prophet, Teacher, Good Man, but not God's Son
0% Believe Jesus is a myth
0% Have never heard His name
2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED THE GOSPEL?
The Mundu call themselves Christians, but for many their traditional beliefs are a more important part of their lives than Christianity. There is need for a true response to the gospel especially in Zaire where the response has been much less.
3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH?
Ratio of churches to population: 1 church for every 1,518 persons
(total churches - 30)
Total number of communities (cities, towns, villages): (communities without church - 2)
4. DO THEY HAVE THE WORD OF GOD TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE?
Portions
IN WHAT FORMS?
Printed: Mark, John and Genesis (1993)
5. ANY HINDRANCES TO SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION?
Literary Rate: 25%
There are logistical problems in getting books into Zaire and the war in Sudan makes distribution very difficult. All books are printed in Nairobi.
6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
Recordings: Yes
Literature: Yes
Films: No
Radio: No
Video: No
Audiovisual: No
7. ARE THEY RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND TO CHRISTIANITY?
The Mundu are receptive to new ideas, but tend to retain the old too.
8. IS OUTSIDE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FROM MISSIONARIES?
For training national Christian leaders."
