Thirty years ago a couple worked among the Alago people to analyze their language. At that time it seemed there was very little interest in having Scripture in the Alago language. People thought the best way to advance educational and economic development was to learn Hausa (the trade language) and English. Eventually, the couple had to leave the country and the project died.
Today attitudes have changed completely. People have begun to value their own culture and language— the language they use at home, the language of their dreams. Now the Alago are now eager to have the Scripture in their language.
In recent years, three men drafted the New Testament, meeting regularly to discuss the translation. They came to the Nigeria Bible Translation Trust* with a pile of handwritten exercise books, asking for help. After several well-attended community meetings were held, the project is now moving strongly ahead with the full support of the Paramount chief of the Alago people and other church and community leaders. This year the translators have taken translation training courses and have begun on the serious task of reworking their translation.
*NBTT is the national Bible translation agency of Nigeria.
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