Foreword

Dedication

This dictionary is dedicated to the memory of Cece Noss and Sylvia Hedinger.

Word of appreciation to Yves Blanchard

Yves Blanchard was born in France on July 7, 1925. Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate, he came to Cameroon in 1952 to serve the Gbaya. Motivated by his passion for the love of God, he devoted himself to learning the Gbaya language in order to share the Word of God with the people in their own language. A man of courage, straightforwardness, and of faith, he spent 52 years of his life as a friend and servant of Christ in the Gbaya community. Back in his home country, Father Yves celebrated his Easter on June 22, 2004, and leaving for eternity.

The project

The span of the development of this dictionary has exceeded́ half a century during which there have been a great many changes and even upheavals in the world. Through the phenomenon of globalization, the Gbaya have experienced the installation of electric power, running water, telephone communication, and recently internet communication available through new technologies. Living through these changes, they continue to maintain and promote their language and cultural identity. The dictionary attempts to capture and present at least a part of their response to this challenge through the use of ressources that are available to speakers of the Gbaya language.