In 2004 Michael and Melanie Viljoen set up a house and began living among the Buwal people of Cameroon, learning their language and rhythms of life. They developed an alphabet and writing system for the Buwal people, and also for two of the neighbouring languages, Mbudum and Gavar. They then worked to train the first Buwal Bible translation team, which succeeded in publishing the Gospel of Luke in 2015. Melanie completed her Doctoral thesis on Buwal grammar in 2013.
Previously, these three languages were only oral in their usage, with no writing system and no Bible. In November 2020, the Mbudum and Gavar peoples joined the Buwal in publishing and dedicating their translations of the Gospel of Luke. The three teams now work as a cluster group (the Jam Ma group of languages), each with the goal of translating the whole of the New Testament.
The Viljoen family are now based in Melbourne. As the main linguists involved in the project, Michael and Melanie continue to give technical assistance, both linguistic and theological, remotely via the internet.
More translation work is now taking place around the world than ever before, especially in Central Africa. There is an increased need for consultants, like Michael (translation consultant-in-training) and Melanie (linguistic consultant), to provide the vital technical support needed by village translation teams.
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Latest Updates from Michael & Melanie Viljoen
24 July 2023
On August 9 we will be leaving for Togo, and travelling to the teaching centre in the North of the country, where Melanie will be heading a narrative discourse workshop for three weeks, starting August 14. This course will have the same goals as the one which Melanie led last September. This time there will be five different translation teams participating: the Ilem and Akebou from Togo, and the Aja, Batonou and Waama from Benin.
These language communities are at different stages of progress in their Bible translation efforts. Previously, these languages were only oral in their usage, with an oral story-telling tradition, so it’s only in more recent years that their languages have been written down. Therefore, the aim for the workshop is to assist the teams to better identify the natural story-telling features within the grammar of their language, so that their written translations will sound more natural, and not just wooden, word-for-word translations following the French patterns.
Michael will also be assisting in the workshop as a facilitator for one or more of the language teams.
Then after leaving Togo in early September, we will both be heading to the Far North of Cameroon to assist with a checking session for the book of Romans, with the translation teams of the ‘Jam Ma’ group: the Buwal, Mbudum, & Gavar. These are the languages that we’ve worked with over many years,
After this Michael has begun to arrange a supervised checking session for a language in the South of Cameroon. The aim is to get more experience in Scripture checking, working under a more senior translation consultant. All of these experiences will be valuable in his progress towards becoming qualified as a French speaking translation consultant of African languages.
Please pray for our safe travels throughout Togo and Cameroon, and also for the various translation teams who will be participating. We praise God that there is so much activity occurring in Bible translation, with the desire among the different language communities in West Africa to have the Word of God come alive though translation into their traditional languages.
06 September 2022
Today we’ll be departing Melbourne, heading for the West African nation of Togo.
For three weeks, starting 12 September, Melanie will be leading a narrative discourse workshop to which translation teams for six different languages of the region have been invited.
The teams will examine the patterns for how stories are structured in their language. Until recent decades, these languages were only oral, rather than communicated through a written script. We’re hoping that the new aspects of grammar they will discover, will equip them with fresh and dynamic tools to make their Bible translations sound more natural and attractive.
This will be Michael and Melanie’s first ever trip to Togo, which makes it an adventure in itself. So, please pray for smooth travels to and within Togo, and for a safe return. Also pray for the travels of the three or four members of each of the translation teams whom we will meet at the training centre in Central Togo.
Our teaching and communications will be in French. Please, pray for wonderful new relationships to be built between all the participants. And an even deeper goal for the workshop will be that for the knowledge gained by these Togolese teams, they will also be able to transfer to other languages of the region.
Thanks for your patience...