Etkwen New Testament — Etkywan (Icen) Scripture (Nigeria)
Overview
Etkwen New Testament is the complete New Testament (27 books) in the Etkywan language of Taraba State, Nigeria, published by The Seed Company in 2024 and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 3934). Known by its speakers as Icen (also spelled Ichen or Itchen), the language is also designated by several external names including Etekwe, Kentu, Nyidu, Kyato, and Kyanton. Etkywan belongs to the Kpan-Icen branch of the Jukunoid language family — a branch containing only two languages (Etkywan/Icen and Kpan), placing Icen within the wider cultural sphere of the historic Jukun peoples of the middle Benue region. The 2024 completion of the full NT marks a significant milestone for the Icen community.
Language and People
Etkywan (ISO 639-3: ich; autonym: Icen / Ichen) is a Niger-Congo language: Niger-Congo → Atlantic-Congo → Volta-Congo → Benue-Congo → Jukunoid → Central Jukunoid → Kpan-Icen branch. The Kpan-Icen branch is one of the smallest branches of the Jukunoid family, containing only Etkywan and Kpan. The broader Jukunoid family includes the Jukun language cluster (Wapan), Kuteb, Yukuben, Wannu, and related languages of northeastern Nigeria and the Benue River corridor.
The Etkywan/Icen community inhabits:
- Takum, Sardauna, and Bali Local Government Areas, Taraba State, northeastern Nigeria, with some presence in part of Wukari LGA
- The middle-Benue River region of northeastern Nigeria near the Cameroon border
Estimated speakers: approximately 50,000–50,200 (2000 Ethnologue data); the total ethnic Icen population is estimated higher (~83,000) in some sources that include diaspora.
Cultural Context
The Icen are a Jukunoid-affiliated farming people of Taraba State in the historical Jukun cultural zone of northeastern Nigeria. The community is roughly evenly split between Christianity (~51%) and traditional religion (~49%), with a minority Muslim presence, making them a largely partially-reached people group. The Taraba State region has experienced significant inter-ethnic tensions and violent conflicts in recent years. Beyond the ICHTSC New Testament, the JESUS Film has been produced in Etkywan, and Global Recordings Network has produced multiple "Words of Life" audio programs in Icen. The 2024 New Testament completion represents years of community-based translation work supported by The Seed Company.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by The Seed Company (seedcompany.com, Fort Worth, Texas), a Wycliffe Global Alliance member organization founded in 1993 by Bernie May. The Seed Company supports local translators working into their own languages through international partner oversight and financial partnerships. Member of the illumiNations coalition.