Sala Translation Project — Sala (Lundwe) Scripture Portions (Zambia)
Overview
The Sala Translation Project is a 2-book scripture portion in the Sala language of Central Province, Zambia, published by The Word for the World International and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 4497). The speakers' autonym Lundwe differs from the external designation Sala used in scholarly and mission sources — a distinction common in Zambian Bantu communities where external ethnic labels often diverge from community self-identification. Sala (ISO 639-3: shq) is a Bantu language of central Zambia, spoken in the Mumbwa District along the Kafue River corridor. The Word for the World International coordinated the initial translation effort through its Zambia partnership program.
Language and People
Sala (ISO 639-3: shq; autonym: Lundwe) is a Niger-Congo language: Niger-Congo → Atlantic-Congo → Volta-Congo → Benue-Congo → Southern Bantoid → Bantu (Zone M or adjacent). The Sala language belongs to the Tonga–Ila cluster of central Zambian Bantu languages, sharing the Kafue River basin with related varieties including Tonga, Ila, and Lenje. These Bantu languages of the Central Province are characterized by the typical Bantu noun-class system and tonal distinctions.
The Sala/Lundwe community inhabits:
- Mumbwa District, Central Province, Zambia — in the Kafue River watershed zone
- The broader Central Province, between Lusaka and the Kafue National Park region
Estimated speakers: small Bantu-speaking community within the Central Province; precise data is limited.
Cultural Context
The Sala people of Mumbwa District occupy an area adjacent to the Kafue National Park — one of Africa's largest national parks — in a zone of transition between the Zambian plateau woodlands and the lower Kafue flats. The Central Province of Zambia hosts several closely related Bantu communities (Lenje, Ila, Tonga, Sala) whose linguistic diversity reflects the complex settlement history of the Kafue valley. The Word for the World International has partnered with Zambian churches on translation projects for several of these smaller Central Province Bantu language communities.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by The Word for the World International (thewordfortheworld.org), a Bible translation organization working in partnership with national churches.