NIELLIM of CHAD
Population: 1,000
Location: N.E. to S.E. of Niellim town; 60 miles N.W. of Sahr.

The Niellim area small tribe of animists and islamised animists. They were converted to Islam at sword point by the Raba just before 1900. Currently many have reverted to their traditional animism. They are considered very receptive to Christianity and even the moslems among them are not so antagonistic to the Christian Gospel as most Moslems. During a visit to this tribe they were pleased to hear about the Good News of Jesus Christ and an invitation to visit again and tell more about Christ was given.
Health care and water are considered to be poor while education, diet and shelter are rated as fair. No electricity, radio or telephone are available.
Intermarriage with other tribes is common and the children take the father's tribe. Though Moslem men can have up to four wives, usually the Niellim men have only one wife.

Although they are poor like many other tribes around them they seem to have a spirit of enterprise. Houses and other buildings are kept well repaired even though they are of mud brick with mud roofs. In the villages there are thatched huts which again are in good repair. Well managed crops of cotton provide cash for necessities as well as surplus food crops which they sell. Many of the tribe live on the east side of the River Chari and they tend to have more animals than those who live on the west side of the river.