This week’s featured people group is the Lobi people of Burkina Faso. They are warriors who have fiercely defended their people from colonization for centuries. While they did make an agreement with French colonizers in the 1700s, the Lobi people were so violent to invaders that the French found it difficult to govern. They are famous for making poisoned arrows to defend themselves from both foreign colonizers and during local, tribal conflicts.

This people group lives in villages, building houses from adobe to form large compounds. They are mainly farmers, growing grains and cereals. Their villages, therefore, consist of communities spread far and wide so that they are able to use large amounts of land to grow their crops and for their animals to graze.

Artwork and Beliefs

In recent years, the Lobi people have become famous for their artwork. They create figurines and statues of wood to honor the spirits they worship. Called “Bateba Figures”, these small statues are considered living beings, not just representations of spirits. They are used to ward off evil spirits that, according to their animistic belief systems, they believe exist all around, in nature, animals, and among the people. The Lobi people often create family shrines to promote good health, fertility, or rain for their crops and animals.

Part of their animistic belief system is tied to a secret ritual called “Joro” which takes place every 7 years. The “Joro”, while not openly talked about among the Lobi people, appears to be a ritual in which children become officially part of the Lobi people. It involves spirit worship and can, in some instances, involve the sharpening of teeth. This ritual is performed with young children of the community.

How to Pray

There is a New Testament available in the Lobi language. This is a great first step to reaching this people group! Let’s continue to lift up those who are working to translate the whole Bible into their language, such as Wycliffe Bible Translators. We can pray together for the Lobi people in these ways:

The Lord would open their hearts to receive the Gospel message in their native language
They would not be fearful of evil spirits
They would reject the practice of teeth sharpening and spirit worship in the Joro
The Holy Spirit would make the Lobi believers bold in sharing their faith with their communities

Learn more about the Lobi People

Joshua Project

Wycliffe Bible Translation

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