Bambalang NT (BMOWBT)

Overview

The Bambalang New Testament (vernacular title: Ŋwaʼaŋlɨ Kɨǹ a Fhi) was published in 2019 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc., completing Scripture access for the Bambalang (Chrambo) people of northwest Cameroon. [1] Bambalang is a Grassfields Bantu language of the Nun subgroup, closely related to Bafanji, Bamali, Bamenyam, and Mungaka, and is spoken in Bambalang village, Ndop Subdivision, Ngoketunjia Division, North West Region. [2] The translation was part of Wycliffe Canada's Ndop Cluster project, launched in 2002 under the supervision of Dan and Melody Grove (Wycliffe Canada), a simultaneous effort across ten related languages on the Ndop Plain targeting printed and audio New Testaments along with literacy resources for each community. [3] [5] Dan Grove initiated linguistic research in Bambalang in 2003 and coordinated translation teams across the cluster, while Melody Grove led literacy development, including a mother-tongue school program in Bambalang's primary school from 2013 onward. [5] The Gospel of Luke was among the first portions to be dedicated; just before its dedication, the community suffered a devastating attack in which 300 homes were burned, yet the newly translated words of Jesus on loving enemies contributed to a response of forgiveness rather than revenge. [4]

Language and People

Bambalang (ISO 639-3: bmo) is spoken by approximately 29,000 people in Northwest Cameroon. [Glottolog: bamb1265]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

References