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The Balanta of Cabo Verde

The Balanta of Cabo Verde, numbering approximately 58,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a diaspora language-variety subgroup of the Balanta of Guinea-Bissau associated with the Kentohe variety of Balanta. They mostly adhere to Roman Catholicism and Balanta-Kentohe is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Cabo Verde
People Cluster: Atlantic
Primary Language(s): Balanta-Kentohe (ble)
Primary Religion(s): Roman Catholicism
Population: 58,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG012819
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Pray for the Balanta of Cabo Verde

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.

Pray Now!
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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Roman Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

96%
%
Roman Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Balanta-Kentohe
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Balanta Speakers

Media Resources in Balanta-Kentohe:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film
JESUSView Film

2 films

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Balanta-Kentohe:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Balanta-Kentohe bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Balanta 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 Balanta:
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 Balanta of Cabo Verde

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or?rulers?or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
readColossians 1:16

Pray for those who are lost among them, that they will come to know the One who created all things and holds all things together.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
readIsaiah 55:6

Pray that the lost will seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
readPsalm 23:4

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will trust in the Lord's presence, even in the darkest valleys.

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
readRomans 10:15

Pray that God will call many believers who will obediently go and share the gospel with those who desperately need it.

Balanta, Kentohe Across Countries (ROP3 - 111208) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

3 people groups

PhotoPeople Group IDNameCountryPopulationStrategic Progress IndexLanguageReligion ▼
BalantaPG012819BalantaCabo Verde58,500No Longer UnreachedBalanta-KentoheRoman Catholicism
Bissau-GuineansPG047464Bissau-GuineansCanada90Engaged yet UnreachedBalanta-KentoheEthnoreligion
BalantaPG013444BalantaGuinea-Bissau553,000Engaged yet UnreachedBalanta-KentoheAnimism

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

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

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