Benga
Benga or Bɛŋga is spoken in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Many speakers live on the island of Corisco in Equatorial Guinea.
Bible Translation
Mission work on Corisco island of Equatorial Guinea, was conducted by the American Presbyterian Mission who established the Corisco Mission. They translated most of the Bible from the 1850s, with the last revision in 1929.
In 1855, a grammar was produced, and the Gospel of Matthew was published. The translation was begun be G.M. M’Queenand continued by James L. Mackey, W. Clemens, and T.S. Ogden. In 1861, the Gospel of Mark was published. It was translated by James L. Mackey, assisted by Andĕke. In 1863, the Gospel of Luke was published. It was translated by T.S. Ogden, and revised by William Clemens.
In 1863, the first book of Moses called Genesis (Ejanganangobo ya Mosĕs ya Boho e Tubakwĕ na Jĕnisis) was published, translated by Rev W Clemens. In 1864, the Gospel of John was published, translated by William Clemens. Also in 1864, the Book of Acts was published, translated by James L. Mackey, assisted by Ibolo.
In 1871, the rest of the New Testament was published. Romans (Ejanganangobo ya Utodu Pâl o ba Roma Bajadi) and Corinthians ( Ejanganangobo ya bohoboho ya Utodu Pâl : o ba Kârint bajadi ) were translated by R.H. Nassau and W.H. Clark. The books Galatians to Hebrews (Bejanganangobo bia Geletia na li ka bweya Hibru) were translated and revised by R.H. Nassau, assisted by W.H. Clark and C. de Heer. The books James to Revelation completed the first New Testament in Benga, were translated by R.H. Nassau and W.H. Clark.
In 1874 the books of Psalms to Malachi (Ejanganangobo ya Psamii - Malakai) were published, translated by R.H. Nassau and W.H. Clark, both of the American Presbyterian Mission.
A dictionary of Benga and English was produced in 1879. The whole New Testament was published in 1881, translated and revised by R.H. Nassau, assisted by W.H. Clark and C. de Heer. Romans to Revelation was further revised in 1893, by Mrs C. De Heer, a lady missionary of the American Presbyterian Mission and H. Jacot, a French missionary.
In 1898, the Old Testament books Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, and Daniel (Malĕndwĕ ma Holi ma Panga ya Vyo: na Benga. Part 1, Jĕnisis, Ipuma, Mekanakâdi, Ukaliyi, Aisaia, Daniel.) were published. In 1899, the Old Testament books Leviticus, Joshua-Ruth, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Hosea, Jonah, Nahum (Malĕndwĕ ma Holi ma Panga ya Vyo : na Benga. Part 2, Leviticus, Joshua, Bayĕkidi, Ruth, Viembo via Lembo, Jĕremaia, Hosea, Jona, Nehum.) were published. These were translated by Mrs C. De Heer, a lady missionary of the American Presbyterian Mission, assisted by nationals, and revised by R.H. Nassau. In 1902, the section Psalms to Malachi (Bejanganangobo bea Psami na Malaki ya Benga.) was revised by Fred G. Nauer of the American Presbyterian Mission.
1929 Revision
In 1929, Gospels and Acts were revised by Albert G. Adams. In 1929 the whole New Testament (Panga ea Kya) was reprinted with the revised Gospels and Acts and the other books from the 1893 New Testament.
All these books of the Bible were published by the American Bible Society.
Digital Edition
The Benga New Testament of 1895 was digitised with the help of MissionAssist in 2012.
