Ndebo Mbuya Kalanga NT

About Ndebo Mbuya Kalanga NT

Ndebo Mbuya (Bulilima-Mangwe Version), by Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel Moyo, is the first full New Testament written in the TjiKalanga Language dialect predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe, centring on the Bulilima-Mangwe Region (which dialect this writer calls the TjiNyayi/TjiLozwi). The Bulilima-Mangwe Version is an ‘equal’ to the Ikalanga Bible Translation that is written in the TjiLilima dialect, predominantly spoken in Botswana – Ndebo Mbuya Ne Njimbo.

The christening of the translation as the ‘Bulilima-Mangwe Version’ only refers to the reality that TjiNyayi/TjiLozwi dialect is now predominantly found in the said region. This of course does not exclude districts that, following political boundaries, are now outside Bulilima-Managwe, that is, Matobo District (Kezi), Umguza and Tjolotjo Districts in Zimbabwe, and the North East District in Botswana. These are, historically, recognized as part of Bulilima-Mangwe (i.e., Bulilima Gwa Meng’we), Meng’we having been one of the last of the Kalanga Mambos.

This writer also believes that for the prosperity and flourishing of the Kalanga language, one day it will be a good idea to have a ‘Province of Bulilima-Mangwe’, largely made up of the Bulilima, Mangwe, Tjolotjo and Matobo Districts, and the historically Jawunda/Jahunda speaking parts of the Gwanda District, Jawunda being a Kalanga dialect, as well as parts of Umguza District including Khami Ruins.

This work also serves as this writer’s contribution to the Kalanga Nation and the Kalanga Christian Community. For a long time, BaKalanga have had to praise and worship the God of Heaven in foreign languages. But it is hoped that with this work, this is coming to an end.

But not only that, I trust and pray that the availability of the Bible in TjiKalanga will not only help more people access the language in the written word, but will also lead many to a personal knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the one who died for our sins and rose for our justification (getting us right with God).

Lastly, I would like to pass my thanks and acknowledgement to the Botswana-based Ikalanga Bible Translation Project and the Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (SPIL) who largely funded the original translation into Ikalanga (TjiLilima) from which this Version has been translated. And to God be all the glory, now and forever.

Gudzo, Dendo ne Ndumbidzo ngakube ku Ndzimu Tate bakudzimu ne Nkololo wawo wakatifila matjinyo edu akamuka mu bafi, Jesu Khirisiti. Gubungano le Ndzimu ne Tjaba tje BuKalanga ngakupfumbile, kubhudilile, kukule!