Totela New Testament — Totela (Echitotela) Scripture Portions (Zambia)
Overview
The Totela New Testament is a 4-book scripture portion in the Totela language of Western Province, Zambia, published by The Word for the World International and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 4504). The speakers' autonym Echitotela means "the Totela language" — echi- is the noun-class prefix for language/manner in Bantu languages of this zone (echi- = language class, equivalent to isi- in Nguni languages). Totela (ISO 639-3: ttl) is a Bantu language of the upper Zambezi River corridor, spoken by a small community in the Sioma–Senanga area of Western Province. The Totela community exists within the broader cultural sphere of the Barotse/Lozi kingdom, which historically dominated the Western Province floodplain.
Language and People
Totela (ISO 639-3: ttl; autonym: Echitotela) is a Niger-Congo language: Niger-Congo → Atlantic-Congo → Volta-Congo → Benue-Congo → Southern Bantoid → Bantu (Zone K). Zone K Bantu languages are concentrated in Zambia's Western and Northwestern Provinces and adjacent Angola, and include Lozi (the prestige language of the Barotse kingdom), Mbunda, Kwangali, and several smaller Zambezi-corridor varieties. Totela belongs among the smaller Zone K or adjacent Bantu languages of the upper Zambezi floodplain zone.
The Totela community inhabits:
- Sioma and Senanga Districts, Western Province, Zambia — along the upper Zambezi River
- The Barotse floodplain area, which floods seasonally and shapes the community's agricultural and fishing practices
Estimated speakers: small Bantu-speaking community; a minority within the Lozi-dominated Western Province. Precise data is limited.
Cultural Context
Western Province of Zambia is the homeland of the Barotse Kingdom (Bulozi), one of the most historically prominent kingdoms of southern Africa, centered on the Zambezi floodplain. The annual Kuomboka ceremony — in which the Litunga (king) moves from the floodplain to higher ground when seasonal floods rise — is one of Zambia's most celebrated cultural events and attracts national attention. The Totela are one of several small ethnic communities that have historically coexisted within the Barotse polity alongside the dominant Lozi speakers. While Lozi serves as the lingua franca and prestige language across Western Province, smaller communities like the Totela maintain their distinct languages. The Word for the World International has engaged with several of these smaller Western Province communities through partnership with local churches.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by The Word for the World International (thewordfortheworld.org), a Bible translation organization working in partnership with national churches.