During the nineteenth century, the North Fali fiercely resisted Fulbe domination and fled into the Mandara Mountains, hills, and isolated valleys. Even today, the dominating power of the Fulbe persists. Many of the Fulbe despise the North Fali, sometimes forcing them to do their menial work. The North Fali remain resentful of this continued persecution.

What Are Their Lives Like
The North Fali are primarily farmers. Their staple crops include sorghum and millet. Maize, rice, beans, potatoes, peanuts, okra, and watermelons are grown as secondary crops. Cotton, indigo, and tobacco are also raised. Most of the farmers keep a small number of cattle, donkeys, goats, sheep, and chickens. They provide the families with protein, milk, and wool and may also be used as religious sacrifices. Bees are also raised and honey is eaten regularly.

The North Fali trade some of their grains, peanuts, and livestock to the Fulbe for salt, bead, and other essential items. They also trade cotton to people of neighboring cities for fabrics and household utensils. They are well known in the region for their industrial arts of doll-making and clay carving.

North Fali villages consist of several round dwellings made of mud-brick and having thatched roofs. The buildings are connected to one another by woven straw fences or hedges, and are positioned so that there is an open area in the center. Each home has a kitchen, an attic, and a room for the husband; the wife lives in her own hut. Separate rooms are added to the house when the children reach puberty. Young single males are live in their own square huts until they are married.

Within each family compound is a storeroom-chapel. Special stones are placed inside the shrine to represent the family's ancestors. Most dwellings also have clay shelters, where people can gather to discuss family matters, play music, or fellowship.

The beauty of the body is very important to the North Fali. They are distinguished from other tribes by their colorful clothing. The men wear unique, rectangular-shaped loincloths, which are made from strips of cotton that have been sewn together. The front of the loincloth is carefully embroidered with colorful geometric patterns. The rest is decorated with glass beads and even pieces of pottery. Bracelets, necklaces, and other ornaments are also worn by both men and women.

What Are Their Belief?
A majority of the North Fali (80%) have converted to Islam. They adhere to the Islamic traditions, which include praying, fasting, and giving to the poor. Theirs is a religion of works based on the belief in one god, Allah, and in the teachings of his prophet, Mohammed.

Most of the others (19%) continue to practice their traditional ethnic religion. Their practices combine animism (belief that non-human objects have spirits) and ancestor worship (praying to the deceased for blessings, guidance, and protection). One month after a person dies, they hold a ceremony called the "festivity of the dead." They believe that the deceased is then reincarnated (reborn into another body) and that he will live forever under the ground, only returning through means of a special mask. These non-Muslim North Fali also believe in a creator god named Faw.

What Are Their Needs?
Only 1% of the North Fali in Cameroon have become Christians; however, no missions agencies are currently working among these believers. Most of the North Fali have not yet heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. Prayer is the key to seeing them reached for Christ.

• Pray that missions organizations and churches will accept the challenge of adopting and reaching the North Fali.
• Pray that the Jesus film and Christian broadcasts will soon be produced in the Fali Nord language.
• Pray that the few North Fali believers will rise to the challenge of taking the Gospel to their people.
• Ask the Lord to begin revealing Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the North Fali bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the spiritual soil of Cameroon through worship and intercession.
• Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the North Fali who will boldly declare the Gospel.
• Pray that strong local churches will be established among the North Fali.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: North Fali
• Country: Cameroon
• Their language: Fali Nord
• Population: (1990) 20,200
  (1995) 23,200
  (2000) 26,700
• Largest religion: Muslim (Malikite) 80%)
  Ethnic religionist 19%
• Christian: 1%
• Church members: 232
• 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: 0
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 4,900 (22%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 1,600 (7%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 3,300 (15%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 18,300 (78%)

• Country: Cameroon
• Population: (1990) 11,525,800
  (1995) 13,233,300
  (2000) 15,244,900
• Major peoples in size order: Adamawa Fulani 8.6%
  Ewondo 8.1%
  Cameroonian Creole 5.8%k
  Bulu Fang 4%
  Bamileke-Bandjoun 3%
  
• Major religions: Christians 63.7%
  Muslim 24.3%
  Ethnic religionist 10.6%
• Number of denominations: 37