Munga Translation Project — Leelau (Bikwin) New Testament (Nigeria)
Overview
The Munga Translation Project is the complete New Testament (27 books) in the Leelau language of Taraba State, Nigeria, published by The Word for the World International (TWFTW) and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 4474). The project title "Munga" refers to the primary Leelau settlement near Lake Mungah, Karim Lamido Local Government Area — a reflection of how the community identifies the translation effort locally. Known by speakers as Bikwin (autonym), the language is also called Leelau, Lelo, or Lelau; the ISO designation "Leelau" is the scholarly name. Leelau belongs to the Bikwin-Jen branch of the Adamawa language family — a cluster of approximately 11 varieties in northeastern Nigeria.
Language and People
Leelau (ISO 639-3: ldk; autonym: Bikwin; also called Leelau, Lelo, Lelau) is a Niger-Congo language: Niger-Congo → Atlantic-Congo → Savannas → Adamawa → Bikwin-Jen branch. The Bikwin-Jen group contains approximately 11 varieties sometimes also classified under the "Bambukic" grouping within Adamawa. Leelau/Bikwin should not be confused with Jarawan Bantu languages, which are a separate Nigerian cluster; Leelau is Adamawa-family, not Bantu. The translation project title "Munga Leelau" reflects the village name Munga.
The Leelau/Bikwin community inhabits:
- Approximately 15 km east of Karim Lamido town, near Lake Mungah, between Bambuka and Karim Lamido
- Karim Lamido Local Government Area, Taraba State, northeastern Nigeria
- Some extension of related Bikwin-Jen varieties into adjacent Adamawa State (Numan LGA, Benue River corridor)
Estimated speakers: approximately 5,000–12,000 (5,000 in Ethnologue/SIL data; ~12,000 estimated total Leelau people group by Joshua Project).
Cultural Context
The Leelau/Bikwin are a semi-agricultural community in the Karim Lamido zone of Taraba State, northeastern Nigeria. Religious composition: approximately 60% Christian, 37% traditional religion, 3% Muslim — a predominantly Christian community classified as "Partially reached." Global Recordings Network has produced one audio resource ("Becoming a Friend of God," program 32171). The Karim Lamido LGA zone contains multiple small Adamawa-family language communities. TWFTW's completed NT (27 books) represents a full foundation for community discipleship and literacy in Leelau.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by The Word for the World International (TWFTW) (twftw.org), an indigenous-led Bible translation organization founded 1981 in South Africa by Dr. Véroni Krüger and P.J. Vivier. Active in 32 countries with 373 translation projects.