The Esimbi of Cameroon

The Esimbi of Cameroon, numbering approximately 68,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a forest people of Cameroon's Northwest Region whose New Testament translation was completed in 2021 after decades of work, though recent armed conflict in the Anglophone region has forced many families to flee their homeland. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Esimbi is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Cameroon
People Cluster: Bantu, Cameroon-Bamileke
Primary Language(s): Esimbi (ags)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 68,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG012468
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Esimbi of Cameroon

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: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

—
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Esimbi
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Esimbi Speakers

Media Resources in Esimbi:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Esimbi:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Esimbi bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Esimbi 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 Esimbi:
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 Esimbi of Cameroon

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
readPsalm 51:17

Pray that those who want to achieve salvation through their works will be unsettled in their pursuit and that, with a broken spirit and contrite heart, they will trust in Christ.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
readIsaiah 40:8

Pray that everyone has access to God's Word and that those who hear the good news will turn from their sins and put their faith in Jesus the Messiah.

Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.
readExodus 4:12

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, God will equip them with the words and wisdom to proclaim His message effectively.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
readJohn 1:5

Pray that when discouraging days come, those who cross cultures for the sake of the gospel will be comforted as they remember that the light of Christ is stronger than the darkness that surrounds them.

Esimbi (Age) Across Countries (ROP3 - 100105) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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

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