The Beja are the descendants of Noah's grandson, Cush (son of Ham). They are a native African people who have occupied their current homelands for more than 4,000 years. During that time, they mixed with other Arab tribes, adopting their Islamic religion. The 850,000 Beja in Sudan are divided into four tribes: the Hadendowa, the Amarar, the Ababda, and the Beni Amer. They inhabit over 110,000 square miles (284,800 square km) in eastern Sudan. Their native language is called Bedawiya, although many are also fluent in Arabic.

What Are Their Lives Like?
The semi-tropical climate of Sudan is influenced by the hot, dry air from the Sahara and Arabian Deserts. The southern part of the country only gets about 10-15 inches (250-380 mm) of rainfall a year. The Beja are primarily nomadic shepherds who migrate annually with their herds. In the north, small groups of nomads herd flocks of sheep, goats, camels, and cattle. Some of the Beja have become more settled and engage in some farming, usually sorghum. The farmers who live along the Red Sea Coast and the Atbarah River raise commercial crops such as cotton and grains, while herding their flocks. Less than five percent of the Beja live in towns. Most of them are employed as cargo laborers and railway workers in Port Sudan.

The Beja nomads live in portable tents that are put up and dismantled by the women. The tents are rectangular in shape and are made of woven, black or gray goat hair. The more settled farmers live in mud-walled houses.

The daily diet of the Beja consists of dairy products (especially camel's milk), beef, and some grain. They traditionally wore animal skin clothes; however, today, they wear manufactured clothing. They are dependent on cash to purchase clothes and other desired goods. Their view of the "good life" is to have large herds and to live in green, well-watered pastures.

The Beja are divided into clans. They are named after their ancestors, and the line of descent is traced through the males. Each clan has its own pastures and water sites that may be used by others with permission. Clans vary from one to twelve families. Disputes between clans are often settled by traditional Beja law; but most day-to-day affairs are managed by the heads of the families. The Beja are a hospitable people, always showing kindness to other clans; however, they are not necessarily friendly to foreigners.

The Beja prefer cross-cousin marriages. After a marriage contract has been made, a large gift of livestock, clothing, and other goods is given to the bride's family. The goal of young couples is to have many male children and to acquire a great number of female camels. Only the wealthiest Beja have more than one wife.

What Are Their Beliefs?
All of the Beja are Muslims; however, they practice what is known as "folk Islam." Their beliefs are interwoven with a rich variety of traditional superstitions. For example, they believe that men have the power to curse others by giving them the "evil eye." They also believe in wicked jinnis (spirits capable of taking on animal forms) and other invisible spirits. They believe that evil spirits can cause sickness, madness, and accidents. Black magic is practiced and animal sacrifices are used in sacred pagan ceremonies. They have adopted many Islamic practices such as repeating prayers, but these prayers are not largely understood.

What Are Their Needs?
Although two missions agencies are now targeting this people group, there are still no known Beja believers. Evangelistic tools, added laborers, and increased intercession are the keys to reaching them with the Gospel of Christ.

Prayer Points

• Pray against the spirit of Islam mingled with witchcraft that is keeping the Beja bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams that will break up the ground through worship and intercession.
• Pray for God to speed the completion of the Jesus film and other evangelistic materials into the Bedawiya language.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to grant favor to the missions agencies that are currently targeting the Beja.
• Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into Bedawiya.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the people toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
• Pray that God will begin revealing Himself to these precious Muslims through dreams and visions.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Beja by the year 2000.

See also:
The Beja of Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Beja
• Country: Sudan
• Their language: Bedawiya
• Population: (1990) 754,900
  (1995) 862,800
  (2000) 985,000
• Largest religion: Muslim (Folk religionist) 100%
• Christians: 0%
• Church members: 0
• Scriptures in their own language: None
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 2
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 69,000 (8%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 0 (0%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 69,000 (8%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 793,800 (92%)

• Country: Sudan
• Population: (1990) 24,585,400
  (1995) 28,098,500
  (2000) 32,078,700
• Major peoples in size order: Sudanese Arab 13%
  Gaaliin 6.6%
  Beja 3%
• Major religions: Muslim 69.3%
  Christian 19.6%
  Ethnic religionist 9%
• Number of denominations: 20