The Dyan of Burkina Faso

The Dyan of Burkina Faso, numbering approximately 37,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a small people of the Black Volta valley in southwestern Burkina Faso's Gaoua district, pushed into their present territory alongside the Sisala and Pwo when Dagara migrants crossed the river during the era of the Gwiriko Empire. They mostly adhere to Animism and Dyan is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Burkina Faso
People Cluster: Gur
Primary Language(s): Dyan (dya)
Primary Religion(s): Animism
Population: 37,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG012393
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Dyan of Burkina Faso

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: Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

72%
%
Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Dyan
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Dyan Speakers

Media Resources in Dyan:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Dyan:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Dyan bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Dyan 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 Dyan:
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 Dyan of Burkina Faso

For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
readPsalm 130:7b

Pray for those who are unaware of God's steadfast love that is offered to them through Jesus Christ to learn the truth and experience His plentiful redemption.

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
readPsalm 104:24

Pray that they will see the wisdom and power of God in His creation and praise Him for His mighty works.

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.

And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
readColossians 1:20

As believers cross cultures to tell others about Jesus, praise God for allowing them to be a part of His reconciling all things to Himself, asking Him to help them remember their role in His beautiful plan of salvation for others.

Dyan Across Countries (ROP3 - 102799) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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