RuKwangali
The ruKwangali language is spoken along the River Kavango in northern Namibia and in southern Angola.
Translation History
The first book of the Bible in Kwangali was Luke. This was translated by Aser Lihongo and Eino Kudumo, assisted by a committee including Tuulikki Jantunen and Anna-Liisa Lundmark from the Finnish Missionary Society, Veikko J. Teinilä, Selma Markkanen, E. Neromba, M. Sikondonbora, and others. This was produced by the Inner Mission Society of the Church of Finland for the Finnish Missionary Society. Then in 1965, they produced the Book of Acts, printed on the Oniipa Press.
The Gospel of John was translated by Aser Lihongo and Eino Kudumo (Lutheran), assisted by a committee including Tuulikki Jantunen and Anna-Liisa Lundmark (Finnish Missionary Society), Veikko J. Teinila, Selma Markkanen, E. Neromba, M. Sikondonbora, and others. This was printed in Oniipa in 1972. They also translated parts of the Old Testament for use in the schools.
New Testament 1974
The New Testament (Etestamente Lyepe) was translated by a committee led by Asser Lihongo (Lutheran), Eino Kudumo (Lutheran) and Tuulikki Jantunen (Finnish Missionary Society). It was published as "Mbudi Zongwa: Etestamende Lyepe moRukwangali" in 1974.
Bible 1987
The Old Testament (Etestamende Lyekurukuru) was completed by Asser Lihongo and Eino Kudumo. The whole Bible was published b y the Bible Society of South Africa in 1987, and it was reprinted by the Bible Society of Namibia in 2003.
Digital Edition
The ruKwangali Bible was digitised for the Bible Society of Namibia with the help of MissionAssist in 2024.