Fali Mijilu kirya — Kirya-Konzəl (Fali) Scripture Portions (Nigeria)
Overview
Fali Mijilu kirya is scripture portions in the Kirya-Konzəl variety of the Fali language, northeastern Nigeria, published by The Seed Company and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 3976). The Fali speak a group of closely related Chadic languages in the Mandara Mountains borderlands of northeastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon; Kirya-Konzəl (ISO 639-3: fkk) is the Nigerian variety, distinct enough from neighboring Fali varieties to receive its own ISO code and translation. The Fali community self-name is Fali across all varieties; "Kirya-Konzəl" refers to the specific dialect cluster on the Nigerian side of the Mandara foothills. This translation provides the first scripture for Kirya-Konzəl speakers specifically.
Language and People
Kirya-Konzəl (ISO 639-3: fkk; autonym: Fali; alternate scholarly name: Fali of Kirya-Konzel) is an Afroasiatic language: Afroasiatic → Chadic → Biu-Mandara branch → Fali group. The Fali languages are a distinct group within the Biu-Mandara branch of Central Chadic, spoken in the Mandara Mountains area. Fali varieties include Fali North (fll), Fali of Kirya-Konzəl (fkk), Fali of Mubi (fmu), and others; these are geographically and dialectologically related but mutually intelligible only with some difficulty.
The Kirya-Konzəl community inhabits:
- Adamawa State or Borno State, northeastern Nigeria (Mandara foothills zone along the Nigeria-Cameroon border)
- Near or adjacent to the Mandara Mountains (Gwoza Hills area)
Estimated speakers: approximately 5,000–15,000 for Kirya-Konzəl specifically (total Fali speakers across all varieties in Nigeria and Cameroon: ~100,000–150,000).
Cultural Context
The Mandara Mountains form a rugged natural refuge where many small ethnic and linguistic communities have preserved distinct identities despite external pressure from the Kanem-Borno Empire, the Sokoto Caliphate, and later colonial administration. The Fali are part of this Mandara Mountain mosaic alongside Higi, Bana, Muktele, Podoko, and many others. Most Fali are Muslim or practice traditional religion, with a small Christian minority. The Boko Haram insurgency since ~2009 has particularly affected the Gwoza and Mandara Mountains area of Borno State, making development and translation work extremely challenging.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by The Seed Company (seedcompany.com, Arlington, Texas) in partnership with local Fali/Kirya-Konzəl translation teams.