Of the six tribes listed above, only the Tama and the Kimr have ever formed independent governments. Today, the Tama are citizens of the independent nations of Chad and Sudan. They all inhabit sandy, hilly regions with similar climates, grow the same crops, make their homes in the same manner, and have similar lifestyles.

The ancient Tama capital, Niere, was located in Chad. The ruins of this city can still be seen, and sultans are still being enthroned there. During the 1800's, the Tama were dominated by Turko-Egyptian Sudan. The Turkish authority was replaced by French and British power in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

What Are Their Lives Like?
The Tama rely on farming and breeding cattle for their livelihood. The Sungor, the Abu Sharib and the Mararit, however, are mostly settled shepherds, and plant only small-scale gardens. Since these groups own the most livestock, they have the most manure fertilizer, which makes their annual crop yield higher than the other groups. Their main crops include millet, sorghum, sesame, peanuts, okra, onions, chilies, watermelons, and various other vegetables.

Because of the sandy, hilly topography and the shortage of rainwater and ground moisture in Sudan, the only agriculture possible for those groups is dry farming. Their livestock includes camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. These provide milk and other dairy products, along with wool and leather. These tribes also hunt guinea, fowl, and gazelles for meat. One of their main dishes is millet served with various sauces, especially goat meat, okra, and onions.

The women gather products from the forests on a regular basis, particularly during the rainy season. The products include wild grasses, berries, and honey, along with useful tool-making or building materials. Women also help work in the field; engage in basketry, pottery, and other crafts; and brew beer from millet, both for consumption and sell or trade. The men do most of the field work and trade at the local markets. They may also work as craftsmen or merchants.

Due to the poor natural resources and economic conditions of the region, some of the Tama migrate from their home territories, searching for work elsewhere, usually in the Nile Valley. Some modern occupations include jobs as clerks, teachers, tailors, drivers, automobile mechanics, and middlemen in trade.

The Tama live in village compounds. Their houses are round, with diameters of 15-20 feet. The walls are made of coarse reed mats, and the cone-shaped roofs are made of thatched reeds. Some homes, however, have lower, more narrow entrances to keep out the lions and hyenas that roam throughout the region. Each village settlement is ruled by its own chief. The chief gives advice to the villagers, handles disputes, and makes important decisions. Each village chief answers to a territorial chief, who, in turn, answers to a higher government official.

Modern schools are not available in most Tama regions. Education is limited to the Islamic schools attended by the Tama boys. Therefore, only a small percentage of the Tama are literate. Some elite families send their children to schools in France, Britain, or other countries. These highly educated Tama hold administrative positions in society.

What Are Their Beliefs?
All of the Tama tribes are Muslim. They adhere to Islamic teachings and hold the traditional Muslim ceremonies and festivals. Many of the tribes also mix animism (belief that non-living objects have spirits) and witchcraft with their Islamic practices.

What Are Their Needs?
The Tama tribes have many spiritual needs. At the present time, none of the groups have missions agencies working among them. Only one tribe, the Kimr, has portions on the Bible translated into their language. Seven of the tribes have no known believers living among them; the other two groups (the Kimr and the Tama of Sudan) are less than 1% Christian. No Christian radio or television broadcasts are being aired among any of the Tama groups.

The Tama desperately need dedicated Christian laborers to live among them and share with them the love of Jesus. Since most of them cannot read or write, Christian broadcasts and the Jesus film are especially needed. Perhaps Christian teachers will have open doors into these tribes.

• Ask the Lord to send forth laborers into Sudan and Chad to share the love of Jesus with the Tama.
• Pray that Christian teachers will have open doors into these tribes.
• Ask God to raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into each of the Tama languages.
• Pray that Christian radio and television broadcasts and the Jesus film will soon be available to the Tama.
• Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to the Tama through dreams and visions.
• Pray that God will grant the small number of Kimr and Tama believers (of Sudan) boldness to share the Gospel with their own people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Tama bound.
• Pray that strong local churches will be planted among each of the Tama tribes by the year 2000.

[Map] [Table]

See also these other Fur groups:
The Maba, The Lisi, The Mimi, The Darju, The Nuba,
The Hadjeray, The Barma of Chad, The Fur of Sudan, The Ingessana of Sudan, The Burun of Sudan.

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Bethany World Prayer Center
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