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

While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
readLuke 9:42

Pray that those who are living outside of the hope of the gospel will know and trust that Jesus offers freedom from the oppression of sin and hope in eternal life.

The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
readPsalm 146:9

Pray for God to watch over people, wherever they are, and cause them to meet believers who will share the gospel with them clearly and lovingly.

And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."
readMatthew 16:17

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will abide in Him and have assurance that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
readPsalm 9:18

Pray that God will raise up believers who can help meet emotional and physical needs among this people group. Ask Him to open doors for them and give them the courage to walk into difficult situations and share the hope of the gospel boldly.

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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