Who are the Datooga?
The Datooga are an unreached people group of central Tanzania. Although scattered across this region of Tanzania, their homeland seems to be centred near Mount Hanang, a mountain that they consider sacred and which plays an important role in their songs and myths. They are a large group of former nomads, who have now settled as farmers. They often keep animals, mainly cattle, but also goats, sheep, donkeys and chicken. They are proud of their culture and see no reason to change. Few children go to school and illiteracy is common.
What do they believe?
The Datooga are animists, respecting and fearing their ancestors. They communicate with them through the spirits, so witchcraft and sorcery is rampant. They believe in a distant creator named ‘Aseeta’ who has twin sons who they expect to come to rule and judge the world some day. They have many rituals, including worshipping at a special tree, or going to the mountains to call on the ancestors.
What is being done to reach them?
In 2006 a TIMO team served among the Datooga. Resulting from that, there are Datooga believers and some have gone to Bible school. Pray they would be strong in the Lord and anointed evangelists. Simon & Sue French continued working among them until 2018, discipling Datooga believers through Bible teaching and seminars. There are also Bible stories being translated and shared.
