What's Happening?
On December 6, 2025, Jehovah's Witnesses released The Bible—The Good News According to Matthew and the book of Mark in Herero, announced by Brother Alfred Phatswana in Gobabis, Namibia. This event was attended by 300 people, with an additional 872 joining
via videoconference. The releases are available in audio and digital formats on jw.org and the JW Library app. This initiative aims to serve the estimated 376,000 Herero speakers in Angola, Botswana, and Namibia. Additionally, on December 13, 2025, the Bible book of Matthew was released in Nigerian Sign Language by Brother Mark Sanderson in Igieduma, Nigeria. This marks the first complete Bible book translated into Nigerian Sign Language, benefiting the estimated eight million deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Nigeria.
Why It's Important?
The release of Bible books in Herero and Nigerian Sign Language represents a significant step in making religious texts accessible to diverse linguistic communities. For the Herero-speaking population, this modern translation supports their spiritual practices and congregation meetings. Similarly, the translation into Nigerian Sign Language addresses the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, promoting inclusivity and engagement in religious activities. These efforts highlight the importance of linguistic diversity and accessibility in religious contexts, potentially inspiring other organizations to undertake similar initiatives.
What's Next?
Following these releases, it is likely that Jehovah's Witnesses will continue to expand their translation efforts to include more languages and dialects, further increasing accessibility. The success of these initiatives may encourage other religious and non-religious organizations to prioritize linguistic inclusivity. Additionally, the availability of these translations in digital formats suggests a growing trend towards leveraging technology to reach wider audiences.
