Introduction / History

The Bassar people are located in a group of villages reaching from the Togo border east of Zabzugu some 30 kilometers east to Basaar in Togo.

There are 30 Bassar clans, each linked by name and ancestry to the towns of Bassar, Kabou and Sara in Togo, and to heads of families which moved into that area perhaps 350 years ago. The clans are exogamous, and the various clan leaders have formed alliances sealed by marriage. Many Bassar have migrated and Kpandai, though not in the Bassar homeland, is the biggest urban Bassari community in Ghana. Subgroups are also defined by language. The Ntcham Bassar speak the Ntcham language, for example.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Ntcham Bassar are farmers with their farms being located away from the towns that they live in. The larger the town the farther away their farms. The major crop is yam, but they also grow maize, guinea corn, millet, tigernuts and groundnuts.

When a man gets married he must have his own quarters so he usually starts a new compound. Each wife has her own hut where she lives with her children; girls stay with their mother till they are married, but boys get rooms of their own when they grow up.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Buddhism was introduced into Thailand in 329 B.C., and today, all of the tribes in Thailand, including the Khmu, are primarily Buddhist. However, most have mixed elements of Buddhism with traditional animistic beliefs (belief that non-living objects have spirits). For this reason, people often seek help through supernatural spirits and objects. They rely heavily on spirit doctors, whom they believe have great healing powers. They also depend on shamans.PRGRPHAncestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors for provision and guidance) is also common among the Khmu people. They believe the ancestral spirits cause illnesses if we do not appease them. Families usually have small altars near their homes where they make sacrifices and offerings to the spirits. The people believe each village has a guardian spirit, as well as various spirits that are linked to the elements of nature. Each family believes they are protected by a sacred totem represented by a boar, an eagle or another animal.PRGRPHThe Khmu keep amulets and charms hanging on the village gates to ward off fires, storms and other natural disasters. Families often have these on the doorways of their homes as well. Only a priest may touch these sacred objects.

What Are Their Needs?

The Khmu people need to put their faith in Christ alone. The spirit world can only do them harm.

Prayer Items

Pray for all their physical needs to be met by our generous God and for them to respond with praise and thankfulness.
Pray for the few Christians among the Ntcham Bassar to shine the light of Jesus, drawing others to him as well.
Pray that soon there will be entire Ntcham Bassar families turning their lives to Jesus Christ.
Pray for Ntcham Bassar disciples to make more disciples.

Scripture Prayers for the Bassar, Ntcham in Togo.

References

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