The Arabs are one of the largest and fastest growing ethnic groups in the world. Throughout Africa, Arabs are subdivided into thousands of ethnic groups and subgroups. These classifications are based primarily on geographical location, variations in their Islamic beliefs, and the Arabic dialect they speak.

The Coastal Arabs live along the coasts of Tanzania and Kenya, East Africa, in an area commonly known as the Coastal Belt. They are concentrated in some of the ancient settlements along the coast and in cities such as Dar es Salaam. They can also be found in major urban centers throughout Kenya's Lamu Islands. The Coastal Arabs speak Arabiya, or Coast Arabic, which is an Arabic dialect belonging to the Afro-Asiatic language family. They also speak the regional language, Swahili.

The Coastal Arabs refer to their ancestors as the "old" or "true" Arabs. Though their culture is still very similar to that of the first Arabs (desert nomads or Bedouins), their traditions have died down to some extent.

What are their lives like?
Like many other Arabs around the world, the Coastal Arabs are not entirely nomadic and they do not live in the desert. Rather, their lifestyle is suited to the environment in which they live. Most of the Coastal Arabs live in rural villages. They are primarily farmers and fishermen, although some who live in the cities may have other professions. The farmers grow cereal grains, vegetables, cotton, and raise livestock. Some may also work part-time as watchmen, storytellers, or seamstresses. Others have special skills as carpenters, barbers, or religious leaders; a few have become teachers or doctors. Still, there are some who are nomads, traveling from place to place with their herds.

Coastal Arab villages consist of tiny houses that are situated closely together. The nature of the villages reflects the closeness of the families. The homes typically have dirt floors and are built with local products, generally mud brick. Family honor is very important, and each family member has a defined role according to Arab tradition. The family unit provides security during times of economic hardship and in old age. When young people leave their villages to find jobs in the towns or cities, the family socioeconomic system is often weakened.

Children are considered a great asset to the villages, since they are the future work force. They also provide social security for their parents and grandparents. The birth of children, especially boys, is cause for great celebration among the Coastal Arabs. As soon as a baby is born, the name "Allah" is whispered in its ear so that this will be the first word the child hears.

Boys and girls are raised together during early childhood; however, they receive very different treatment. Boys are shown much affection and are pampered by their mothers, while girls, though shown affection, are not pampered. The father is a stern disciplinarian to both his sons and daughters. At a very early age, boys are taken to the fields with their fathers and older brothers to help with the farming. The young boys are also taught to obey and respect older males. Girls stay at home to help their mothers cook and care for the younger children.

Among the Coastal Arabs, marriages take place as a way to continue a family lineage or as a means of meeting a family's needs. Since marriage is viewed as the union of two families rather than the union of two people, couples work hard to make their marriages successful. As a result, divorce is very rare. The Coastal Arabs tend to marry other Coastal Arabs and possibly Somalian Arabs, because they are proud of their heritage and desire to remain a closed group. Although polygyny (having multiple wives) is accepted by Muslim Arabs, it is generally practiced by only the wealthier men whose first wives are barren, or those who desire to establish new family ties.

What are their beliefs?
The Coastal Arabs are virtually all Muslim. Many follow the teachings of the Koran because it provides hope for a better life after death. Like other Muslims, the Coastal Arabs adhere to the five "pillars" of Islam. These include reciting prayers five times a day while facing Mecca, affirming that Allah is the only god and Mohammed is his prophet, observing the prescribed fasts, giving alms to the poor, and making at least one pilgrimage to Mecca.

The mosque is the center of Islamic worship. Men regularly attend the mosque for prayer services, but women rarely attend. While men worship at the mosques, women usually attend ceremonies conducted at home by female religious leaders.

In addition to their Islamic beliefs, some of the Coastal Arabs also believe in spirits. They try to appease these spirits during times of crisis or sickness. Magic is also practiced by many Coastal Arabs.

What are their needs?
The Coastal Arabs already have some Christian resources available in their language. They are also currently being targeted by missions agencies. However, because of their strong adherence to Islam, the Coastal Arabs have been reluctant to accept Christianity.

Additional Christian resources and missions efforts are needed. However, prayer is the first step towards seeing the Coastal Arabs reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord to raise up missionaries who will go to East Africa and share Christ with the Coastal Arabs.
• Pray that African believers will be compelled to take the Gospel to their unreached neighbors.
• Pray that God will call forth intercessors who will faithfully stand in the gap for these precious people.
• Ask the Lord to begin revealing Himself to the Coastal Arab Muslims through dreams and visions.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will anoint the efforts of missions agencies that are currently targeting the Coastal Arabs.
• Ask the Lord to create a hunger within the hearts of the Coastal Arabs to know God in a personal way.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Coastal Arabs bound.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Coastal Arabs of Tanzania and Kenya.

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Bethany World Prayer Center
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