The Mina of Benin

The Mina of Benin, numbering approximately 228,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Gen-Mina people whose ancestors fled Ghana's Denkyira and Akwamu wars from Elmina and Accra to merge along the Togo-Benin coast between Agbodrafo and Grand-Popo, taking the name Mina from the Portuguese word for mine, referencing their homeland's gold. They mostly adhere to Ethnoreligion and Gen is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Mina

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Benin
People Cluster: Guinean
Primary Language(s): Gen (gej)
Primary Religion(s): Ethnoreligion
Population: 228,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG012341
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Mina of Benin

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Ethnoreligion
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

70%
%
Ethnoreligion Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Gen
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Gen Speakers

Media Resources in Gen:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Gen:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2004 Bible Society of Togo✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Gen bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Mina are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Mina:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Mina of Benin

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
readProverbs 4:19

Pray that lost people will accept salvation through Christ, turn from destruction, and experience joy in the way of righteousness.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
readPsalm 119:105

Pray that they will receive the Word of God as a lamp to their feet and commit their ways to Him.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.
readPsalm 130:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will wait on the Lord and have patience and trust, knowing His ways and His timing are always perfect.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way.
readPsalm 37:23

Pray that believers from near and far will serve here and trust in the Lord's timing as He establishes their steps.

Mina, Ge Across Countries (ROP3 - 114980) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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