ETHNOS Christian Missions, Nigeria - click for home page
file:///C:/0page2014/ethnosmissions/ethnosmissionshome.htm SAVÈ

Ethnos Executive Director

The Location:

The Savès are located at the middle belt of Republic of Benin, sharing boundaries with West/East of Ife tribe. By the North they share boundary with the Baribas and by the South with Nigeria. In Oyo North they share boundary with the Yorubas (the Onkos). In the Republic of Benin, their boundary started from river Queme (when you are coming from Cotonu to Parakou) and stop at Odo-akaba. There are other tribes in their midst but the Saves are in the majority.

The Targeted Tribe

The Savès are historically Yorubas, before the Colonial era. They were part of the old Oyo Empire. Their fore-father was one of the seven sons of Oduduwa - the father of Yorubas. Today, by their tribe, they are called Savès and their principal town is also call Savè. Culturally, they share the same culture with Yoruba, with a little influence from the French (due to colonisation).

The Commencement of the work

Going by the research work we did among them tribe in 1996, there were already the presence of Catholic, Methodist, UEEB, and other orthodox churches before we got there, but the experience of being truly born again, with an assurance of heaven was not there. Thus, the organisation declared the tribe unreached, and the work commenced by sending a team of men for an open air crusade in March 1998 at Kilibo. A missionary was subsequently placed there for follow up and Church planting.

The type of Work

Discipleship and Church planting are our main assignments. The work that started at Kilibo moved speedily to Yaiui, Agboro, Toui, Ayedero, Odo-akaba, Afesomu, Ikemo and Savè township.

Also the work has produced able leaders and three missionaries, who had been trained to work among other tribes. One of the three now works among the Bantes; the other works among the Bokos, and the last works among the Yaure people in the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.

The Challenges

Savè is a big tribe covering a large land. Towns and villages of the Savès in Republic of Benin are up to 124, and having planted Churches in less than 12 towns and villages does not justify that Savè has been reached.