The Tigre, descendants of the ancient Egyptians, are generally tall and have narrow noses and brown skin. Most of them converted to Islam during the 1800's, influenced by Muslim Arab missionaries. Since their language, Tigre, has no script of its own, most literate Tigre write in Arabic. Today, many of the Tigre continue to live as nomads, but most are semi-nomadic; others have become settled farmers.

What are their lives like?
The nomadic Tigre raise cattle, goats, sheep, and camels. These animals are sold in the markets and the earnings are used to buy essential items. The nomads do not live in villages, but roam about the countryside with their herds. They live in round huts, usually covered with mats made of woven goat or camel hair.

The semi-nomadic Tigre usually spend half the year in the northern highlands and the other half in the western lowlands. Their villages usually have only two or three huts. Their huts are also round and are covered with mats made of woven goat hair. They also tend livestock, usually cattle and goats.

The settled Tigre farmers raise corn, sorghum, wheat, barley, legumes, and linseed. They live in villages and their homes are usually round with cone-shaped roofs made of branches and leaves. The walls are typically made of palm mats. Most of the farmers raise goats and occasionally cattle. Oxen, mules, and donkeys are used as pack animals. With unpredictable amounts of rainfall and families averaging seven children, many are dependent on government aid for survival.

The Tigre's traditional animal skin clothing has now been almost entirely replaced with commercial clothes. Their diet consists of dairy products, some slaughtered stock, grain, and fruit. The men tend the livestock while the women carry water from local water holes, build the huts, and care for the children. Tigre women like to wear jewelry, especially silver bracelets and strings of pearls. They also prefer to make their clothing from colored cloth, which is available at trading markets. Tobacco, coffee, and beer are frequent indulgences.

Tigre society is patrilineal, which means that the line of descent is traced through the males. Marriages are arranged by the parents; however, wedding customs have varied somewhat since the Tigre converted to Islam. Some of the people now adhere to Islamic customs, while others continue to follow the traditional customs. Members of a tribe usually follow the same set of rites and customs.

What are their beliefs?
Although the Tigre profess to be Sunni Muslims, most of them practice "folk Islam," which is a blend of Islam and ethnic beliefs. Their traditional beliefs include animal sacrifices and rainmaking rituals. Sacrifices of livestock or corn are offered whenever they think their sins are numerous. They believe that the sacrifice becomes the scapegoat for their sins.

The Tigre also believe in an evil spirit named Zar, who possesses people and causes accidents, illnesses, and sometimes death. The people depend on shamans (priests) to cure the sick by magic, communicate with the spirits, and control events. The shamans also exorcise demons and perform services by entering into a trance.

What are their needs?
There are currently four missions agencies working among the Tigre of Sudan. However, there are only 11 known Tigre believers in Sudan at this time. Prayer is the key to reaching these precious group with the Gospel.

Prayer Points

• Pray for God to grant His favor and wisdom to the missions agencies that are currently targeting the Tigre.
• Ask the Lord to call additional long-term workers to live and work among them.
• Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the 11 known Tigre Christians in Sudan.
• Pray that the Lord will give these converts boldness to share Jesus with their own people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping these precious people bound.
• Ask God to call forth prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Tigre through dreams and visions.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Tigre of Sudan.

See also the following related group:
the Tigre of Eritrea

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Tigre
• Country: Sudan
• Their language: Tigre
• Population: (1990) 9,800
  (1995) 11,200
  (2000) 12,800
• Largest religion: Muslim (Sunni) 98%
  Nonreligious 1.9%
• Christians: <1%
• Church members: 11
• Scriptures in their own language: Bible
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 4
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 3,500 (31%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 600 (6%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 2,900 (25%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 7,700 (69%)

• 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%
  Guhayna 3.1%
  Beja 3%
• Major religions: Muslim 69.3%
  Christian 19.6%
  Ethnic religionist 9%
• Number of denominations: 20