BokyiLiteracy and Scripture Engagement
The Bokyi speakers of southern Nigeria desire to see their language revived in their communities. Higher literacy rates lead to increased opportunity to engage with God’s Word.
Scripture Engagement
Country
- Nigeria
Region
- West Africa
Language Population
275,000
ACCESSing Bokyi Scripture has challenges
Bokyi was the second language (after Efik) in the Cross River State, Nigeria, with a full Bible.
Yet, low Bokyi literacy rates keep distance between the language community and God’s Word.
increasing Scripture Access
We partnered with the Bokyi Language Committee in 2012 to encourage literacy and use of the full Bokyi Bible, the audio recording of the New Testament, and the JESUS film.
Your financial gifts and prayers equip leaders in Nigeria to offer literacy education, organize listening and reading groups, and ultimately bring God’s Word to the Bokyi-speaking community of West Africa.
Program Goals
- Encourage Bokyi literacy in six (6) communities.
- Work with the local Education Authority to revive the teaching of the Bokyi in primary schools.
- Support Scripture listening and reading groups: sustain the three existing groups and start 11 more.
Bokyi Literacy and Scripture Engagement Program Plan
Step 1
Expand literacy efforts into six Bokyi-speaking communities.
Step 2
Sustain and launch new listening and reading groups.
Step 3
Increase literacy rates and Scripture engagement for Bokyi speakers.
Meet the Local Team
Team members
• Six literacy teachers
• 11 Scripture Engagement workers
• The committee for the mobilizations
Organizational Partner
• The Boki Education Authority
REV. Linus Otronyi
Rev. Linus Otronyi grew up in the rural village of Iboko, in the Yala-speaking area of northern Cross River State, Nigeria. Rev. Linus is an ordained pastor with the Lutheran Church of Nigeria and serves as an International Associate with Lutheran Bible Translators.
Partner Organizations
Honoring the Language
Bokyi has 12 unique dialects. Alphabetic script is used for writing, which is a unique feature among African languages.
Nigeria is home to 143,700 Bokyi speakers, many of whom are situated in a tropical rainforest in the central Cross River State.
Over 70% of the language community makes their living from subsistence agriculture. Many farm cocoa, yams, cassava, palm oil, plantains, bananas, bush mangos, eruru (forest leaf), timber, and more.
Program Progress
The Bokyi Language Committee continues to interact with the local Education Authority and other stakeholders to see that Bokyi is taught in the primary schools.
