Ngemba in Cameroon

Introduction / History

The Mankon people group (or Greater Mankon) comprises a number of mutually intelligible speech varieties (possibly as many as twelve dialects), distinguished as politically independent from Mankon proper, the name of the largest village and dialect. Mankon is a vital language having precedence in many domains of life for the Mankon people.

The Ethnologue refers to this group of dialects as the Ngemba language, but this is really a misnomer. Ngemba denotes a subfamily of languages encompassing the region around Bamenda.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Ngemba villages has some sixty-three quarters and includes an urban area that is part of Bamenda.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Churches have been well-established among the Ngembas for many years. Christianity, though popular, is still viewed as a foreign religion in a foreign language.

What Are Their Needs?

It needs to be made indigenous by translating the gospel message into Ngemba. So far there is the New Testament in this language, but the Old Testament helps them to understand certain principles and concepts. They see the mother tongue Scriptures as absolutely necessary. They should have the resources and personnel to make Bible translation possible, yet they need some guidance and training from other organizations. The Word of God in Ngemba has the potential of reaching several other language groups in the area, either through direct use or by adaptation.

Prayer Points

Pray for the entire Bible to be translated into the Ngemba language.
Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Ngembas that will not be satisfied by anything short of close relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pray for love and discipleship to define the Ngemba church.

Text Source:   Joshua Project