The Kono of Nigeria

The Kono of Nigeria, numbering approximately 11,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an indigenous Kainji people of Kaduna State whose homeland centers on Kono village in the Lere-Saminaka area and who are also known as Koonu or Kwono. They mostly adhere to Neo-Pentecostalism and Kono (Nigeria) is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Nigeria
People Cluster: Mande
Primary Language(s): Kono (Nigeria) (klk)
Primary Religion(s): Neo-Pentecostalism
Population: 11,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 10% or Greater Evangelical
People Group ID: PG013929
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Kono of Nigeria

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: Neo-Pentecostalism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

60%
%
Neo-Pentecostalism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Kono (Nigeria)
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Kono (Nigeria) Speakers

Media Resources in Kono (Nigeria):

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Kono (Nigeria):

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Kono (Nigeria) bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Kono 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 Kono:
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 Kono of Nigeria

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
readJohn 16:33

Pray that those who don't have peace with God will find peace in Christ, even amid the troubles of this world.

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
readLuke 5:27-28

Prat that God will prepare many hearts to meet Him when He says, “Follow Me!” and that they will respond in faith, leaving everything behind to follow Him.

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
readHebrews 10:39

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, and faithfully follow God, they will share Christ boldly with those around them.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
readPsalm 67:1-2

Pray that as God blesses believers from among this people group or from nearby cultures, He will raise them up to share His saving power among the nations.

Kono, Kwono Across Countries (ROP3 - 105195) 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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