Bobangi
The Bangi or Bobangi language, is spoken along the River Congo, the River Kasai and around Lake Tumba, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Written Language
The Bobangi language was thoroughly studied written down by Baptist missionaries. A dictionary and grammar was created by John Whitehead and published in 1899. The language was written down in the Roman alphabet, using all the letters except q, with diacritics on the vowels.
Some of the Bible was then translated into Bobangi and published between 1905 and 1916. Genesis, the first 25 Psalms, Isaiah chapters 53 and 55, Daniel, the Minor Prophets and the New Testament have all been published in Bobangi. In addition further Old Testament stories were translated by A. E. Scrivener.
Genesis
Genesis (Mabandele) was translated by A. Billington of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and published in 1913. It was published by the Baptist Mission Press at Bolobo in Haut Congo. The full name was called: Monkana mo Mose mo Nconco, Mokotangibwa mo Mabandele.
Psalms 1-25
The first 25 Psalms (Nzembo) were translated by A. Billington of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and published by the Hannah Wade Printing Press at Bolobo in 1905. It was called: Nzembo li ba‐Yuda. He also translated The 53rd and 55th chapters of Isaiah (Yesaya). All the Psalms were then published in 1928.
Prophets
The book of Daniel (Danyele) and the Minor Prophets (Bantete) from Hosea to Malachi were translated by John Whitehead of the Baptist Missionary Society and published at the Hannah Wade Printing Press in Bolobo in 1916. The full title was: Monkana mo Danyele mpe ne mu Bantete zomu na Babale.
New Testament
The New Testament (Mbengu Etemu) was published in sections. Matthew was translated by A.E. Scrivener of the Baptist Missionary Society and published in 1892, which was the first piece of Scriptures in Bobangi. This was followed by Mark translated by James A. Clark and John Whtehead of the Baptist Missionary Society, and Luke translated by James A. Clark of the Baptist Missionary Society. These were printed at Lukolela in 1895.
John was translated by John Whitehead and published in 1896; Matthew was revised in 1902; Mark was revised in 1903; Luke and John were revised in 1904; the Catholic Epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude were translated by A.E. Scrivener and published in 1904; Acts, Galatians, and Philippians were translated by James A. Clark and published in 1906. These were all printed at Bolobo. Then the books from Romans to Revelation were printed at Lukolela in 1908, and this completed the whole New Testament.
The New Testament (Mbengu Etemu) was then published together in one book by the Bible Translation Society, auxiliary of the Baptist Missionary Society, and printed at the Hannah Wade Printing Press, in Bolobo on the Upper Congo, in 1912. The New Testament follows the versification of the Revised Version. The full title was: Mbengu Etemu Embe Yesu Masiya e Mokonzi mpe Mokosoli o Biso Bozengwibwak’o Lokota lo Bobangi.
Reprints
The Bobangi New Testament was republished by the Bible Translation Society in 1931, and most recently by the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) in 1947.
Digital Edition
This set of Scriptures in Bobangi was digitised with the help of MissionAssist in 2022.
