Nahen Literacy

• Location: Myanmar
• Completion Target Date: N/A

An estimated 7,000 Nahen people live in 15 villages in northern Myanmar, in the Naga Autonomous Region of the Sagaing Division, with some additional Nahen living in neighboring countries. They speak their own distinct dialect of the Tangshang Naga language, and yet their language remains unwritten. Villages outside of their immediate district also understand the Nahen language, with 6 of them having 70-100% mutual understanding. That adds over 3,000 additional people who could benefit from having the Scriptures in Nahen one day.

The gospel came to the Nahen villages in 1981 as the result of national missionary work. Today, it is estimated that there are at least 3,000 believers in evangelical churches. They translate from the Judson Bible for preaching and teaching and use Burmese for singing, but Nahen is used for all other parts of their services.

Bibles International first met the Nahen in the fall of 2022. The Nahen Literacy Organizing Committee contacted Bibles International Myanmar Society (BIMS) the following spring with a letter of intent requesting assistance in developing their alphabet and language. After evaluating the Nahen application, the BIMS executive committee voted to recommend it to BI for adoption. In December of 2023, BI adopted the Nahen Literacy Project.

The Nahen people have expressed their great desire to have a written language that would culminate in a translation of God’s Word in Nahen one day. They explain that they want to understand the Bible more than they currently can in Burmese, and they want to sing hymns in Nahen. They know that evangelism will be easier in their mother tongue and that people will love the Bible more. These are all vital reasons for the Nahen to have God’s Word in their own language.