Formerly part of the Camucuio Cluster translation, the Ovakuvale live in low-lying rural areas of southwest Angola. They depend on livestock and small-scale farming and are a traditionally oral people. Less affected by the civil war than neighbouring groups, most still live on ancestral lands, though some have moved to cities for work. Often described as “aggressive herders,” the Ovakuvale have very few believers or churches. Ongoing challenges include strong traditional religion, syncretism, poverty, limited access to safe water and sanitation, disease, and strained relations with neighbouring communities. Access to God’s Word can help them navigate these challenges and bring transformation to lives still unreached by the Gospel.

In September 2024 the Camucuio Cluster unbundled, and each of the three languages, including Olukuvale, are now continuing as stand-alone translation projects. They have had their first workshop and are already starting to record translated passages of Scripture.