Tekna in Morocco


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Berbers are divided by subgroup, yet the generic term that they prefer is Imazighen, meaning, "Free men." Freedom and independence are highly valued by these people, who are much better known as Berbers, a term meaning "barbarians" slapped on them by the Roman Empire. Today the term Berber is so well-engrained that people seldom know who they are without using this derogatory term. The Berbers include several tribes including the Tekna. They were once semi-nomadic. Their yearly cycle was divided between herding camels and goats and farming. This tribe lives in Morocco and Western Sahara.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the main vocation of the Tekna Berbers is settled in agriculture. While many characteristics of Berber society have survived, they have been dramatically modified by the economic and political changes of the 20th century.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tekna people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will. In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

There are few if any Christ followers among the Tekna people. Almost all Christians in Morocco live in urban centers. They need evangelists and disciplers.


Prayer Points

Pray for good schools and medical facilities for Morocco's Tekna people.
Pray for spiritual hunger and discernment among the Tekna people in Morocco.
Pray for the Lord to raise up Tekna disciples who will make other disciples.
Pray for Tekna leaders to have dreams and visions of the victorious, risen Christ, leading them to open the door to the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Tekna in Morocco.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tekna
People Name in Country Tekna
Pronunciation TEK-nah
Alternate Names Saharawi; Sahrawi; Tekna Berber
Population this Country 20,000
Population all Countries 136,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15320
ROP3 Code 109923
ROP25 Code 309189
ROP25 Name Berber, Shilha
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Souss-Massa-Drâa, Guelmim-Es Semara, Marrakesh-Tensift-Al Haouz, and Tadla-Azilal regions: coast south to Ifni, north to near Agadir, northeast to Marrakech outskirts, east to Drâa, including Sous valley, and south near the border.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Souss-Massa-Drâa, Guelmim-Es Semara, Marrakesh-Tensift-Al Haouz, and Tadla-Azilal regions: coast south to Ifni, north to near Agadir, northeast to Marrakech outskirts, east to Drâa, including Sous valley, and south near the border..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.99 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Hassaniyya
Language Code mey   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Arabic, Moroccan
Primary Language Hassaniyya
Language Code mey   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Arabic, Moroccan
People Groups Speaking Hassaniyya
Photo Source COMIBAM / Sepal 
Map Source Bryan Nicholson / cartoMission  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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