You might call them "bartered brides." A girl from one clan marries into another clan. Then that clan has to reciprocate by giving a girl to the first clan. If no girl is available, then someone must pay a bride price. This is a practice in the northern part of Nigeria among the Butu-Ningi people, also called the Butawa people. They are a small people group and the languages that they had spoken as recently as the 1970s were considered "dead" by the 1990s. The Butu-Ningi have adopted the Hausa language.
It is hard to overcome traditional beliefs, and the Buta-Ningi have many. They used to believe that certain people could transform themselves into animals, especially elephants. Today, however, children are sent to Islamic schools and many families embrace Islam, the religion of the surrounding Hausa people.
A people who like to sing, the Butu-Ningi compose new songs for the Gwarma Gom, a thanksgiving festival to the gods every January. Outreach partners can teach them more new songs—songs of thankfulness to the God who gives life to the full!
"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:5-6
Pray that many from this people group will be in awe of the blessings of the Lord.
Pray for Holy-Spirit-directed workers to go to them! Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among the Butu-Ningi people that would spread to the powerful nearby Hausa people.
| People Name | Butu-Ningi |
| Pronunciation | BOO-too NEENG-ee |
| Country | Nigeria |
| 10/40 Window | Yes |
| Population | 59,000 |
| World Population | 59,000 |
| Language | Hausa |
| Primary Religion | Islam |
| Bible | Complete |
| Online Audio NT | Yes |
| Jesus Film | Yes |
| Audio Recordings | Yes |
| Christ Followers | Few, less than 2% |
| Status | Unreached |
| Progress Level: |
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