Borana of Ethiopia (PGID: PG011558)

The Borana of Ethiopia

The Borana of Ethiopia, numbering approximately 978,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Cushitic Oromo people of Ethiopia's Borena Zone and northern Kenya practicing the uninterrupted Gadaa governance system, which selects nine leaders every eight years and drove their 12th-15th century territorial expansion. They mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Horn of Africa Peoples
Country: Ethiopia
People Cluster: Oromo
Primary Language(s): Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo (gax)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 978,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG011558
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Pray for the Borana of Ethiopia

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.

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Sunni Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

90%

Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo
Language Family: Afro-Asiatic

100%

Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji Speakers

Media Resources in Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo:

Films:

Title	Link
JESUS	View Film
JESUS	View Film

2 films

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo:

Bible Name (Translation)	Video	Audio	Text
1994 Bible Society of Kenya		✓
2007 Bible Society of Ethiopia		✓

2 entries

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

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SPI: No longer Unreached

The Borana are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Next steps for the Borana:

Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people

Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting

Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Borana of Ethiopia

Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
Romans 1:22

Ask God to pour out His mercy and bring those who are walking in their own wisdom to faith in Jesus.

For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!
Deuteronomy 32:3

Pray that believers will proclaim the Lord’s name and declare the greatness of our God so that others might believe in Him.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.
Hebrews 10:24

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will love and encourage one another, spurring each other on to live lives that honor God.

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sends me, even so I am sending you."
John 20:21

Ask God to raise up and send out believers cross-culturally who will go out in His authority and be sustained by His peace as they share the gospel with the lost.

Borana Across Countries (ROP3 - 101615) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index

All

Engaged yet Unreached UUPG No Longer Unreached

CountryReligion

2 people groups

Photo	People Group ID	Name	Country	Population ▼	Strategic Progress Index	Language	Religion
	PG011558	Borana	Ethiopia	978,000	No Longer Unreached	Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo	Sunni Islam
	PG014769	Borana	Kenya	215,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo	Sunni Islam

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