The Himba are nomadic cattle herders living in northern Namibia, with a related community in Angola’s Kunene province. Numbering over 50,000, they are a pastoral people historically linked to the Herero. Although their language is closely related to Herero, the Himba were unable to connect with God through a Herero Bible translation. As a result, an oral Bible is being recorded for the Himba. In addition, a transcription project is beginning for the Himba community in Angola, who have requested written Scriptures in their own language.

When Mukaa Mbengera Tjivaro received an MP3 player loaded with Bible passages in Himba, she listened to it day and night, driven by a deep thirst she didn’t understand. One day, she approached a visiting pastor to talk about it. He told her about Jesus and she immediately gave her life to Christ.

“Since then,” she said, “I have joy in my heart that has never departed from me. I feel that I am one of the luckiest people to have this tool, because it has changed my life.”

She also said,

“This MP3 player is the Bible for us who cannot read. I listen to this MP3 then whatever I listen from it, I will encourage people in the church and community. That’s why I have said this MP3 is the best tools for me as Omuhimba”.

A local pastor told us,

“We are grateful for the Bible stories we learn, like the Christmas story where we learnt that just like us, Jesus was not born in luxury. He was born in an animal enclosure. These stories make us feel like people too. For long, we were not fully accepted as a people, but ever since receiving the Bible, we feel we have now been accepted.” 

The Himba translation team completed phase 3 of translation ahead of schedule, and held a celebration in August to dedicate 180 scripture devices to God and begin distributing them.

In October they launched on phase 4, in which they will produce oral translations of another 5 books of the Bible over a three year period.

A separate process is also underway to start transcribing scripture that has already been orally translated.