Waci translation added to ethnē!

The importance of the Waci language

Having a Waci Bible translation is critically important for reaching ~420,000–920,000 speakers in southeastern Togo and southwestern Benin. Waci speakers live primarily in Togo's Maritime region and Benin's Mono department, where the language is also known as Ouatchi or Watchi. The Waci people trace their origins to the Ewe diaspora from Notsé in the late 16th century and identify strongly with the broader Ewe ethnic group, particularly in Togo. The language remains vigorous, used by all ages in the community, and is recognized as a minority language in Benin.

For churches, missionary organizations, and faith communities throughout southeastern Togo and southwestern Benin, providing the Bible in Waci ensures that the Christian message reaches speakers in their heart language—the idiom of intimacy, identity, and deepest understanding. Though Waci speakers exhibit high bilingualism in Ewe and Gen (which serve as languages of wider communication), and French functions as the national language in both countries, many Waci speakers still process spiritual truth most naturally in their own variety. Without Scripture in Waci, believers must navigate the Bible through languages that, while closely related and mutually intelligible, do not carry the same emotional resonance or cultural immediacy as the language spoken in their homes and communities. This barrier is especially significant in Benin's Mono department, where traditional religion remains dominant (74.2%) and Christians represent only 2–5% of the Waci population.

About this Waci translation

• Local Name: Waci
• English Name: Waci
• Translation Scope: Partial Audio: Acts
• Audio by Hosanna
• In partnership with Wycliffe Benin

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This Waci translation in the wider community

Waci belongs to the Niger-Congo family (Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Gbe) and forms part of the Gbe language continuum, closely related to Ewe and Gen (Mina). The language sits at the center of ongoing linguistic debate: some analyses place it within the Gen cluster, while Capo (1991) classified it within the Ewe cluster. Mutual intelligibility is high with both Ewe and Gen, and Waci speakers often consider their language and Ewe to be the same. Written in Latin script, Waci exhibits vigorous vitality (EGIDS 6a) and faces no endangerment. Lokossa and Capo published a grammatical description (Precis grammatical du Gengbe et du Wacigbe) in 1978. Ewe is widely taught in schools in southern Togo, reinforcing the close linguistic and cultural ties between the two communities.

This Waci translation in local churches

Religious practice among the Waci differs sharply by country: in Togo, the community is mainly Christian, while in Benin traditional religion dominates and Christians represent only 2–5% of the population. Christian mission groups are active in the region. For oral and audio learners—who comprise a substantial portion of the Waci community—audio Scripture provides accessible encounter with God's Word in a format that fits local learning styles. As indigenous Waci leadership develops, having Scripture in the people's own language (rather than relying solely on Ewe or Gen materials) strengthens local ownership of the faith and supports worship that resonates with cultural identity.