The Landoma region is a basin for many coastal rivers that flow into the Atlantic. Crocodiles, hippos, manatees, and poisonous snakes swim the rivers, making it difficult for inexperienced swimmers or fishermen. The area receives over 150 inches of rain each year, and the average temperature is about 82ºF. Although Guinea is rich in minerals such as bauxite, iron ore, gold, and diamonds, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with very little income and a soaring inflation rate.

What Are Their Lives Like

The Landoma are primarily farmers who use the "slash and burn" method of cultivation. As a result, many of the forests in the region are becoming depleted. Their major crops include rice, corn, potatoes, and nuts. Many plantations also produce fruits. Not much game is located in the area so the tribe consumes very little animal protein. Their main sources of meat are usually chickens and goats.

The Landoma take products, such as oil and coconut palms, rice, bananas, vegetables, salt, and fish, to the local markets for sell or trade. Fish has become one of the most important trade items. The markets regularly receive much fresh, dried, or smoked fish from the Landoma. A number of the villagers have also become skilled craftsmen, producing baskets, leather goods, or wood carvings to sell or trade.

The Landoma are a matriarchal (female-dominated) society. The men usually hunt and fish, while the women do the majority of the agricultural work. In most marriages, a bride-price is paid. Polygyny (having multiple wives) is commonly practiced.

Most Landoma villages are grouped together at the bases of hills, in the open plains, or on valley floors. Each village contains many families and usually has between 100 and 200 people. The largest village only has about 400 houses. The mountain Landoma live in neighborhoods of isolated homes. Their houses are generally round or rectangular, have several rooms, and are built with mud walls and cone- or pyramid-shaped, straw thatch roofs.

What Are Their Belief?
Islam is practiced by three-fourths of Guinea's total population. Islamic mosques have been set up in towns and villages, and people regularly go there to worship. It is no surprise, then, that 85% of the Landoma are Sunni Muslims. They adhere to the basic duties of Islam, which include praying, fasting, and giving alms to the poor.

About 10% of the Landoma continue to practice their pagan religions, either solely or in conjunction with Islam. They believe that spirits hover in and around their villages doing, good or evil to those who deserve it. The deceased are said to become spirits that lurk about the Landoma, watching their activities. The villagers believe that if these spirits are not properly appeased, they cause sickness or disease.

What Are Their Needs?
Guinea is a very poor nation and food is often scarce. Those who can educate the farmers in modern agricultural techniques are desperately needed. Unfortunately, only about 28% of Guinea's total population is literate, and very few of the Landoma can read or write. Schools, materials, and qualified teachers are needed throughout the region. Perhaps Christian teachers will have the greatest opportunity to live and work among this tribe.

Spiritually, the Landoma also have many needs. There is only one missions agency targeting this tribe and their resources are limited. Since most of the villagers cannot read, tools such as the Jesus film and Christian radio broadcasts are desperately needed to help spread the Gospel among them.

• Ask the Lord to send forth Christian teachers and humanitarian aid workers to demonstrate the love of God to the Landoma.
• Pray that God will grant wisdom and favor to the missions agency that is targeting the Landoma.
• Ask the Lord to begin revealing Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
• Pray that God will give the Landoma believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Landoma bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the spiritual soil of Guinea through worship and intercession.
• Pray that the Bible, Christian broadcasts, and the Jesus film will soon be made available in the Landuma language.
• Ask the Lord to bring forth strong local churches among the Landoma by the year 2000.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Landoma
• Country: Guinea
• Their language: Landuma (Tyapi)
• Population: (1990) 14,000
  (1995) 16,300
  (2000) 18,800
• Largest religion: Muslim (Sunni) 85%
  Ethnic religionist 10%
• Christian: 5%
• Church members: 813
• 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: 1
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 4,200 (26%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 2,000 (12%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 2,200 (14%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 12,100 (74%)

• Country: Guinea
• Population: (1990) 5,755,300
  (1995) 6,699,600
  (2000) 7,758,700
• Major peoples in size order: Fula Jalon 37.9%
  Southern Maninka 25.6%
  Susu 12.1%
  Guerze 5.1%
  Kissi 4.8%
• Major religions: Muslim 73.9%
  Ethnic religionist 20.9%
  Christian 5%
• Number of denominations: 10