SUKUMA

Ancestors of the Sukuma were part of the extensive migrations of people speaking early forms of Bantu speech in the first millennium AD. The Sukuma live in northwestern Tanzania near the southern shores of Lake Victoria. It is a flat and scrubless savannah plain between 3 000 and 4 000 feet elevation. Sukuma population is spread out among small farm plots and sparse vegetation.

A Bantu speaking people, the Sukuma can be subdivided into two groups: the Kinakia of the north and the more dispersed Kisomao of the south. The Sukuma people grow crops and raise livestock. Women do the majority of the family's work. While the Kinakia are subsistence farmers, the Kisomao rely more on herding cattle. Crops that are grown are cotton, cassava, rice, and peanuts.

Christianity, although introduced to the culture over a hundred years ago by Catholic missionaries, has not formed a church presence capable of reaching its people. Most Sukuma people have retained their belief in divination, magic, and spiritism. Perceived as being slow to change, the Baptist Mission started an intensive team oriented evangelistic thrust called the Sukuma Project. Proving that the Sukuma were responsive, this project has resulted in the first visible inroads of evangelical Christian work."

• Country: Tanzania
• Population (year): 32.9 million (1995)
• Major Religion: Christian
• Percent Christian: 51%
• Percent Evangelical: 9.7%
• Openness to Missionaries: Open"

1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL?

Who is Jesus Christ to them? < 10% Believe Jesus is the Son of God

2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THE GOSPEL?

Believers to population: 1 believer to every 11 persons (total believers: 285 000)(< 10%)

3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH?

Churches to population: 1 church for every ? persons (total churches: ?) AIM is reaching out to the Sukuma.

4. DOES THIS PEOPLE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE?

The Bible is available in Swahili.

5. ANY HINDRANCES TO SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION?

No, approximately 80% of the Sukuma live in the cities of Mwanza and Shinyanga.

6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Radio: FEBA Radio broadcasts 21 hours per week in Swahili.

7. ARE THEY RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND TO CHRISTIANITY?

Yes, the Sukuma Project proved that this people are responsive.

8. DO THEY REQUIRE OUTSIDE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE?

Yes, the church is not capable of reaching its people."