church The Bible in Fongbe

The Lord’s Prayer in Fon

The central prayer of Christianity, the Lord’s Prayer (Tɔ́ mǐtɔ̀n ɖò jǐxwé) was translated into Fon as early as the Catholic missions of the 19th century. Here is the official liturgical version.

schedule 5 min
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1
Opening

Our Father, who art in heaven

Tɔ́ mǐtɔ̀n ɖò jǐxwé
Our Father, who art in heaven

Tɔ́ = father. Mǐtɔ̀n = our. Ðò jǐxwé = in heaven (lit. « in the house of the sky »). A construction very faithful to the original text.

2
Middle

Thy kingdom come

Nyikɔ towe ní nyí mímɛ́Hallowed be thy name
Axɔ́súɖuɖu towe ní wáThy kingdom come
Jlǒ towe ní nyí wiwaThy will be done
Ðò ayikúngban ɔ́ jí, lě ɖò jǐxwé
On earth as it is in heaven

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3
The end

Petitions and amen

Ná mǐ nùɖúɖú egbèGive us this day our daily bread
Sɔ́ hwɛ̌ mǐtɔ̀n kɛ mǐForgive us our trespasses
Ma dɔ́n mǐ byɔ tɛnkpɔn mɛ óLead us not into temptation
Ámɛ́nAmen
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Liturgical use

This version is used in Beninese Catholic Masses in the Fon language. Protestant churches have their own, very similar translation.

A universal prayer in Fon

Praying the Tɔ́ mǐtɔ̀n in Fon connects Christian faith to the mother tongue. More than 40% of Beninese people recite it this way, at least on Sundays.

Danxomɛ
Language before translation
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Proverbs, Vodun, the history of Danxomɛ: all of it is said first in Fon. 79 video lessons with a native speaker, from the first greeting to conversation — so you can listen to this culture without having it translated for you.

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