The Andai people live in the mountains of the East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Their staple food is sago. They process the trunk of the sago palm to make a flour which is subsequently mixed with a little water and cooked over the fire into dry, pancake-shaped loaves. The Andai people also eat green leafy vegetables and occasionally hunt for animals such as tree kangaroo and snake.
The need to collect sago sometimes leads the Andai people to leave their villages for weeks at a time because the sago palms grow far away from their villages. While they are processing sago, Andai families live in temporary shelters in small bush camps. They also cultivate some produce in small gardens, although reportedly gardening is not part of their traditional culture.
The Andai people primarily speak their vernacular language, also called Andai. Although some people also speak Tok Pisin, which is one of the trade languages of Papua New Guinea, proficiency in Tok Pisin is limited. Many women do not speak more than a few basic words of Tok Pisin.
Despite trends of modernization in Papua New Guinea, the Andai people hold on to their traditional way of life. They hunt with bow and arrows, construct their houses from materials derived from the palm tree, travel in dugout canoes, and some, especially men and boys, wear traditional clothing.
In 1982 the first Lutheran church was planted in the Andai area. The Lutheran church has both local leadership and foreign missionaries working amongst the Andai. While most people in the area profess Christianity, there appears to be much nominalism and, although it is not always admitted openly, it seems that traditional spiritual practices are common. Sorcery, divination and magic are still practiced.
There is no Scripture written in the Andai language, and many people cannot understand the Bible well in any other language. There is a need for God's Word to be translated into Andai. Since many Andai people have never been to school, they will need significant outside assistance in translating the Bible.
Scripture Prayers for the Andai in Papua New Guinea.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Andai |
People Name in Country | Andai |
Alternate Names | Meakambut |
Population this Country | 500 |
Population all Countries | 500 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 2 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 5 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 10396 |
ROP3 Code | 100449 |
ROP25 Code | 300450 |
ROP25 Name | Arafundi (Andai) |
Country | Papua New Guinea | ||
Region | Australia and Pacific | ||
Continent | Australia | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | East Sepik province: Karawari rural district. Andambit, Awarem, Imboin, Kaiyam, Kupini, and Namata mountain villages; Arafundi and Wagupman rivers’ head. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Papua New Guinea |
Region | Australia and Pacific |
Continent | Australia |
10/40 Window | No |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | East Sepik province: Karawari rural district. Andambit, Awarem, Imboin, Kaiyam, Kupini, and Namata mountain villages; Arafundi and Wagupman rivers’ head.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 2.00 %) |
15.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
85.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Andai (500 speakers) |
Language Code | afd Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Andai (500 speakers) |
Language Code | afd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Andai |
Primary Language: Andai
Bible Translation Status: Translation Needed
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
None reported |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |