The Makuri people, numbering approximately 3,000 worldwide, are primarily found in Layshi Township in Myanmar, with some communities also residing in Homalin and Lahe Townships, as well as across the border in India.¹
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Language and Identity
The Makuri language (code: jmn), a Sino-Tibetan language, exhibits high vitality, with all interviewed individuals expressing positive attitudes towards their mother tongue.² Children acquire it as their first language, and it remains the sole language used in most intra-village interactions. There is no current indication that the Makuri Naga language is endangered or undergoing a language shift.³
The Makuri language displays dialectal variation, with main subgroups including Makhwale, Saingphule (Saingpuri), Arale, Kyile, Kyaungphuri (Shu), and Shera.⁴ Recent language development efforts have resulted in the production of primers and Bible portions, specifically based on the Shera dialect.⁵
Historical Migration
Oral traditions and historical accounts suggest three primary routes through which the Makuri Naga migrated into Myanmar from India:
The Makhwale Route: This path signifies one of the historical entry points for the Makuri people into their current territories.⁶
The Amimi Khuula Route: Located north of Mount Sarameti, this route served as another significant migratory corridor.⁷
The Phukhuri, Ahwa Chaung, and Chera Route: This route lies north of Nantalet Stream, which was previously known as Ah Sarti in the Makuri language. The term "Ah Sarti" literally translates to "the water which we drank in our birth-place," emphasizing a strong ancestral connection to their original lands. Over time, the word "Ah" was gradually dropped, and the stream became simply known as Sarti.⁸
Religious Demographics and Needs
The religious landscape of the Makuri people is diverse, though the majority are Christian (55%), with a significant 40% identifying as Evangelical Christians.⁹ The Gospel message has been actively preached to them by missionaries since the 1950s. Alongside the Christian majority, there are also adherents of Buddhism (30%) and traditional ethnic religions (15%) among the Makuri community.¹⁰
A definite need exists for Bible translation among the Makuri Naga, which would facilitate evangelism, discipleship, teaching, and church planting efforts. However, further research is required to identify a central dialect that would best serve as the basis for a comprehensive translation project.¹¹
Some Makuri literature development work has already been undertaken on the Myanmar side of the border, including translations of certain parts of the Bible and other materials, primarily utilizing the Shera dialect. Additionally, a wide array of resources is available in Burmese [mya], which could potentially be used among the Makuri Naga, although not all members of the community possess a strong understanding of Burmese.¹²
Persecution and Prayer Points
The Makuri Naga in Myanmar face challenges, as indicated by Myanmar's Persecution Rank of 19 on the Open Doors top 50 list (with 1 being the highest persecution ranking). This highlights the importance of continued support and prayer for the community.¹³
Prayer points for the Naga Makuri in Myanmar (Burma) include:
Scripture Prayers: For the ongoing and future efforts in Bible translation to make the complete Scripture accessible in their heart language.¹⁴
Notes
"Naga Makuri," Joshua Project, accessed July 20, 2025,
. Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
"Naga Makuri," Joshua Project, accessed July 20, 2025,
. (Note: Percentages for Christian, Buddhist, and Ethnic Religions are from this source). Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid. (Note: Persecution rank is specifically from Open Doors data cited by Joshua Project).
Ibid.
