Dar Daju Daju
Introduction / History
The Dar Daju Daju people of Chad, Africa are located in the Guéra region of Chad. The Dar Daju Daju people are distinct from the Dar Sila Daju of Chad. . Both groups refer to themselves as "Dadjo."
The Dar Daju Daju are located in central Chad, while the Dar Sila Daju are located in the eastern part of Chad and cross into Sudan.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Chadian Arabic is the major language of trade for the Dadjo with almost 100 percent of the adult male population speaking it on a regular basis with members of other ethnic groups. Though Chadian Arabic is the major trade language, the level of proficiency in the language is quite low in places.
The use of Arabic is most greatly felt in the town of Mongo where the intermingling of different ethnic groups is commonplace. In normal village situations the women of the village are mostly monolingual in Dadjo, and the men almost solely use Dar Daju Daju.
The Dadjo generally marry others of the Dadjo ethnicity, while those in larger towns intermarry with other ethnic groups.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Having been influenced by of Islam in preceding centuries, the Dadjo people are almost 100% Muslim, though many continue to practice long established religious customs which are non-islamic.
What Are Their Needs?
According to UNICEF (2008), the literacy rate in Chad is 41 percent for adult males and 13 percent for adult females. The percentage of children attending primary school is 41 percent for males and 31 percent for females. Secondary school attendance is noted as 23 percent for males and 7 percent for females.
The actual figures are much lower for the Dadjo people. The Dadjo are mostly subsistence farmers with some owning small businesses in the town of Mongo. The Chadian government is encouraging the development of local languages and their incorporation into the education system, but it generally lacks the funding and expertise to accomplish such a task independently. The Fédération des Associations pour la Promotion et le Développement des Langues du Guéra (FAPLG), one of several NGOs engaged in language development work, is currently working with the Dadjo to promote literacy and literature production.
There are Scripture portions now available to the Dadjo and a translation work is occurring. In addition, the AET church of Chad has done mission work amongst among the Dadjo.
Resourced by Joshua Project