Bambalang NT (BMOWBT)

Overview

The Bambalang New Testament (vernacular title: Ŋwaʼaŋlɨ Kɨǹ a Fhi) was published in 2019 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc., completing Scripture access for the Bambalang (Chrambo) people of northwest Cameroon. [1] Bambalang is a Grassfields Bantu language of the Nun subgroup, closely related to Bafanji, Bamali, Bamenyam, and Mungaka, and is spoken in Bambalang village, Ndop Subdivision, Ngoketunjia Division, North West Region. [2] Its working orthography was developed in 2007 and refined in 2012. The translation was part of Wycliffe Canada's Ndop Cluster project, launched in 2002 under the supervision of Dan and Melody Grove (Wycliffe Canada), a simultaneous effort across ten related languages on the Ndop Plain targeting printed and audio New Testaments along with literacy resources for each community. [3] [5] Dan Grove initiated linguistic research in Bambalang in 2003 and coordinated translation teams across the cluster, while Melody Grove led literacy development, including a mother-tongue school program in Bambalang's primary school from 2013 onward. [5] The Gospel of Luke was among the first portions to be dedicated; just before its dedication, the community suffered a devastating attack in which 300 homes were burned, yet the newly translated words of Jesus on loving enemies contributed to a response of forgiveness rather than revenge. [4]

Language and People

Bambalang (ISO 639-3: bmo) is spoken by approximately 29,000 people in Northwest Cameroon. [Glottolog: bamb1265]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

References