Some of the receipients of the Sign Language Bible display the Bible with joy
For many, the Bible is a source of comfort, guidance, and spiritual nourishment. But for Nigeria’s Deaf community, accessing this life-giving text has been a long and challenging journey. The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), driven by her mission to make the Scriptures available to all in the languages and formats that they prefer, embarked on a novel project of translating the Bible into Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) for a community often overlooked and neglected.
For the 8.5 million people in the Deaf community in Nigeria (according to World Health Organisation as of 2021), relying on written text, which many of them struggle to fully comprehend, creates a significant barrier to accessing the Bible. Having identified this critical need, the BSN in partnership with Deaf Opportunity Out-Reach (DOOR) International, Kenya and the Presbyterian Church initiated the NSL Bible Translation Project in 2012 with the objective to make the word of God available to the deaf community in the Nigerian Sign Language.
The Journey So Far
A team of Deaf translators from Nigeria undertook training in Nairobi, Kenya to begin translating 32 Chronological Bible Stories (CBS), marking the start of a transformational journey. This effort and action led to the first 77 Chronological Bible Stories for the deaf which were dedicated in 2014. 33 and 35 more stories were added in 2017 and 2021 respectively. The dedication of additional 77 stories in 2024 brought the total Chronological Bible Stories in the Nigerian Sign Language to 222. With this, the deaf community in Nigeria now have an idea of what the word of God looks like in their heart language, while awaiting the completion of their Bible.
Having completed the translation of the Chronological Bible Stories, the next phase became the translation of the complete Nigerian Sign Language Bible, beginning with the New Testament. In October 2023, the journey to translate the full Bible into the Nigerian Sign Language began with the Book of Matthew. The Book of Matthew is completed and ready for use, while 1st and 2nd Peter have also been done. The team is currently working on the Book of Mark.
As a proof of commitment to this project and its resolve to deliver the word of God to the deaf community, BSN built and dedicated a Deaf Translation Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State in 2017, making it the first Bible Society in Africa to have a centre dedicated to Sign Language Bible translation.
The project has made significant strides, and the impact has been profound. Deaf individuals in Nigeria are experiencing a deeper connection to their faith, gaining understanding of biblical concepts in their own language for the first time.
Mr. Okhaide Monite, a 43-year-old deaf from Edo State who lost his hearing ability at the age of five after a bout of illness, said through an interpreter, “I am happy to have received a copy of the Nigerian Sign Language Bible story. With this, I can now understand God better because it is in my heart language and this will help strengthen my relationship with God.” Another beneficiary, John Ayanwole while thanking The Bible Society of Nigeria said, “Most of us can neither read nor understand properly the Bible in written format because it is not our mother tongue. This word of God in the Nigerian Sign Language has brought us a big relief.”
Churches are becoming more inclusive, providing sign language interpretation and creating welcoming spaces for the deaf community, while families with deaf members are finding new ways to share and discuss spiritual values.
Deaf Translation Centre.
A Call to Partnership
Despite the progress being made, the journey is far from being over. The complete translation of the Bible into NSL is a complex, resource-intensive, and multiple-year endeavour. In the last two years alone, BSN has spent the sum of ₦112,642,500 on this project. The vision is to make the entire Bible available in the Nigerian Sign Language within the next 20 years if sufficient resources and support are available.
There are about 400 Sign Languages globally for over 70 million deaf and only the US has the full Bible for the Deaf in the world, which is the American Sign Language Bible. What is the fate of other deaf Christians outside the US?
By supporting this project, you will bring the life-changing message of the Bible to those who need it most. Your generous donation will help the BSN continue this vital work. Join us in bridging the silence and bringing the light of the Scriptures to Nigeria’s Deaf community. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of Nigeria’s Deaf community.