A translation of the Bible into Wolof, Senegal’s native language, has been completed after 60 years of work spearheaded by one woman.
Contemporary Wolof is the main language of Senegal, a country on the Western side of Africa with a population of more than 19 million – though its formal language is French.
The Wolof translation was undertaken by Marilyn Escher who first arrived in Senegal in 1970. She began learning Wolof and worked for many years with Eric Church, a Bible translator from England, eventually coordinating a translation team for 50 years.
In a special ceremony celebrating the completed translation, Jeff Denlinger, president of World Venture which supported the translation, said: “We express our profound gratitude to the Lord God for His gracious provision for the Word in Wolof.”
Senegal’s population is mainly Muslim. According to SIM (Serving in Mission), which is involved in church planting in Senegal, Wolof is one of the world’s least-reached people groups.
