Intermarriage and close contact with some non-Nilotes have influenced the Central Koma culturally and linguistically. Thus, while most Nilotes speak a language from the Sudanic linguistic stock, the Central Koma speak a language that belongs to the Koman language group.

The Central Koma, like other Nilotes, are tall, with long legs and thin physiques. They have little body hair, broad noses, thin lips, and long heads. As a whole, most Nilotes look uniquely different from surrounding peoples.

What are their lives like?
The Central Koma (hereafter called Komo) are shepherds and farmers. They raise cattle, sheep, and goats. Their crops include sorghum, maize, sesame, okra, peppers, cotton, and tobacco. They engage in some hunting and fishing, and also do some trading with the Nuer and other nearby peoples. The men hunt, fish, and do most of the herding and milking, while the women help the men with farm labor. The women also collect honey from the hives in the bush.

The Komo live in compact villages, in round huts with thatched roofs. Each wife has her own hut where she and her children remain until the children are old enough to begin their own families.

Komo marriages take place by the exchange of sisters from one village to the next. Marriage between close relatives is forbidden. The groom is not required to perform a bride-service (working for the bride's family before a marriage can take place), and a bride-price is uncommon. Polygamy (having more than one spouse) exists, but only a few of the wealthiest Komo have more than one wife.

Each village (or small group of villages) has a headman who inherits his office and exercises limited authority. He is considered "the Father of the Land." Although families clear and cultivate the fields, individual families do not own the land. Instead, the land collectively belongs to the entire village, under the leadership of the headman. The headman also keeps in his possession the symbolic insignia of the Komo, such as strings of beads, spears, and village drums.

"Rain-makers" (men who conduct rituals in order to bring much needed rain) also inherit their positions and may sometimes serve as village headmen. In addition, each village has a religious expert who specializes in magic and is subject to inspiration from spirits.

There are a few schools in the Blue Nile Province, and some Komo have the opportunity to receive an education. In certain schools, English is taught at the higher levels, while Arabic is taught at the lower levels. There are few medical facilities in the area. The people often look to their chiefs for the healing of simple illnesses.

What are their beliefs?
Most Komo follow their traditional ethnic religion. This religion teaches the worship of a supreme god who is considered the creator of all things, and the worship of the spirits of dead ancestors. Divination (the use of supernatural powers), magic, and rain-making are also a part of the traditional religion.

What are their needs?
The Komo have no Christian resources available to them. There is one missions agency currently working among them; however, a large majority of the Komo have not had an opportunity to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel of Christ. Bibles need to be translated into the Komo language, and Christian broadcasts need to penetrate the airwaves of the Blue Nile Province. Prayer is desperately needed to make all of this possible and to open the hearts of the Komo so they will receive the Gospel when it is presented to them.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord to bless the efforts of the missions agency that is currently working among the Komo.
• Pray that the Lord will send Christian doctors and other laborers who will share the Gospel with the people.
• Pray that Bible, the Jesus film, and other Christian evangelical materials will be translated in the Komo language.
• Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to the Komo through dreams and visions.
• Pray that God will give the Komo believers boldness to share the love of Jesus with their own people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Komo bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Komo church for the glory of His name!

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Central Koma
• Country: Sudan
• Their language: Komo (Gokwom)
• Population: (1990) 13,400
  (1995) 15,400
  (2000) 17,500
• Largest religion: Ethnic religionist 94.9%
• Christian: 5%
• Church members: 769
• Scriptures in their own language: None
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 1
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 4,100 (27%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 1,800 (12%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 2,300 (15%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 11,300 (73%)

• Country: Sudan
• Population: (1990) 24,585,400
  (1995) 28,098,500
  (2000) 32,078,700
• Major peoples in size order: Sudanese Arab 13%
  Gaaliin 6.6%
  Guhayna 3.1%
  Beja 3%
• Major religions: Muslim 69.3%
  Christian 19.6%
  Ethnic religionist 9%
• Number of denominations: 20