Mambu ya Nzambi (MKWEBL)

Overview

Mambu ya Nzambi is a complete Bible translation in Kituba (ISO 639-3: mkw), published in 2025 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. [1] Kituba, also known as Kikongo-Kituba or Munukutuba, is a Kikongo-based creole language that serves as a major lingua franca in both the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with approximately 18 million speakers across Central Africa. [2][3] The language developed primarily through population movements and labour migrations associated with the construction of the Matadi-Kinshasa railway at the end of the 19th century, and it holds the status of national language in both Congos. [2][3] This translation covers all 66 books of the Protestant canon. [1]

Language and People

Kituba is spoken as the primary lingua franca in the provinces of Kongo Central, Kwango, and Kwilu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in the southern regions of the Republic of the Congo including Kouilou, Pointe-Noire, Niari, Bouenza, and Lékoumou, as well as in Brazzaville and Kinshasa. [2] Compared to Kikongo proper, Kituba has a simplified grammar with a reduced noun class system, which has contributed to its widespread adoption as a second language across the region. [2]

References