60-year Scripture translation finished

Nicola Laver  |  World
Date posted:  28 Jun 2026
Share Add       
60-year Scripture  translation finished

'Aerial view of the cityscape of the Dakar coastal region with buildings and greenery in Senegal, West Africa'. Source: iStock

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.

Share
< Previous article| World| Next article >
Read more articles on:   Bible translation
Read more articles by Nicola Laver >>
UK & Ireland
10,000 Reasons to  praise in prison...

10,000 Reasons to praise in prison...

At Chelmsford prison, the sounds of prisoners singing 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord, O My Soul) has been heard …

UK & Ireland
Questions raised  about BBC Jesus

Questions raised about BBC Jesus

Will the Jesus of a new TV programme coming to the BBC next year be portrayed as “woke”?That’s the …

Need to advertise?

We can help you reach Christians across the country

Find out more

New here?

Register and get three free articles each month!

Register