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Prayer Profile
The Vai of Liberia
The Vai live in northwestern Liberia and eastern Sierra Leone, two neighboring
countries in West Africa. The Vai of Liberia occupy territory covering
about 7,000 square miles. This region has several rivers that empty into
the Atlantic Ocean. The Vai living along the coast are surrounded by sandbars
and swamps; while those living farther inland dwell in thick, forested
areas.
Liberia is a small country that remains primarily undeveloped. The temperatures
there range from about 76º to 80º F year round. It is the oldest
republic in Africa and the only African state never subject to colonial
rule. As a result of extensive migrations that occurred centuries ago,
more than twenty different tribes now live in Liberia.
The Vai are attractive people of average height, and their skin ranges
in color from light brown to coal black. They are well proportioned and
intelligent. They speak Vai, a Niger-Congo language.
What are their lives like?
Most of the Vai are farmers. Plots of cleared land provide space to
grow rice and vegetables. These plots can only be used for one or two years
before the farmer must move to a new plot. New plots are cleared by using
the "bush farming" technique. This involves burning off the land
and allowing the ashes to serve as fertilizer. The only trees not cut down
are the palm trees, which provide nuts and shade for the farmers. Women
and children participate in farming by chasing away the birds and weeding
the plot.
Game is scarce in Vai country since most of the animals live farther
inland in the jungles. However, hunting occasionally provides meat for
the Vai.
The Liberian Vai are known as skilled carpenters, weavers, and tailors.
This is evidence of the Egyptian and Arabic cultures from which they came.
Although they are crafters of valuable hand-made items, imported goods
are now beginning to take their place.
Village houses are usually rectangular, about seven or eight feet high,
and rise to a peak in the middle. They usually have from two to six rooms.
The kitchen and bathroom are separate structures built several yards from
the home.
The Vai have three types of schooling. The first is the "bush school,"
where the children learn traditional Vai socialization skills, important
survival skills, and other traits of village life for four to five years.
Some then attend English schools to learn the English language. Finally,
those who attend the Quianic schools are taught the Arabic language under
the guidance of the village iman (local Muslim religious leader).
Growing technology in this region is changing the tribal Via into a
more modernized community. Automobiles have provided a means by which they
can trade their cocoa, coffee, and cloth with people in other towns.
What are their beliefs?
The Vai are predominantly Muslim,
but many traditional pagan beliefs are still practiced. For instance, the
alligator is believed to be connected with evil spirits, since it destroys
life. A supreme god is thought to be the controller of Earth and everything
in it, since they believe he created everything. The Vai believe that this
god manifests himself through spirits and nature. They also believe that
this god is too distant to serve or worship directly, so they use a spirit
medium.
Most of the Vai are very superstitious and some practice witchcraft.
They consider themselves to be surrounded by spirits that can change into
living creatures or objects. These spirits are believed to have the power
to do evil to individuals or to the whole tribe. The Vai perform ceremonies
for the dead in which they leave articles of clothing and food near the
graves of the deceased.
What are their needs?
Although there are four missions agencies currently working among the Vai,
less than 1% of the Vai population has converted to Christianity. Prayer
is the first step toward reaching them with the Gospel.
Prayer Points
- Ask the Lord to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that
are currently targeting the Vai.
- Ask the Lord to raise up additional long-term missionaries to go to
Liberia and work among the Vai.
- Ask God to give the Vai believers a burden to share Christ with their
friends and families.
- Pray that God will open the hearts of Liberia's governmental leaders
to the Gospel.
- Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to the Vai through dreams and
visions.
- Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are
keeping the Vai bound.
- Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil
through worship and intercession.
- Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Vai by the
year 2000.
See also the following related group:
the Vai of Sierra Leone
Statistics
Latest estimates from the World Evangelization Research Center.
THE PEOPLE
- People name: Vai
- Country: Liberia
- Their language: Vai
- Population:
- Largest religion:
- Christians: <1%
- Church members: 716
- Scriptures in their own language: None
- Jesus Film in their own language: Available
- Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
- Mission agencies working among this people: 4
- Persons who have heard the Gospel: 31,400 (31%)
- Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 70,900 (69%)
THEIR COUNTRY
- Country: Liberia
- Population:
- Major peoples in size order:
- Major religions:
- Number of denominations: 52
© Copyright 1997
Bethany World Prayer Center
This profile may be copied and distributed without
obtaining permission
as long as it is not altered, bound, published
or used for profit purposes.
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