Rennell and Bellona (pop. 4,500) is a Polynesian language in the Solomon Islands. The islands are uplifted coral atolls with fertile soil in the inland part of the islands, especially in Bellona where the soil contains phosphate, while the fertile soil on Rennell is mostly found in pockets which contain bauxite. Unlike most island dwellers in the Solomon Islands, the people of Rennell and Bellona live in the centre of their islands, rather than along the coast, which is very rocky.
Bible Translation into the language of Rennell & Bellona
In 1978 Nico and Pam Daams were assigned by the SICA Translation Committee to assist the Polynesian language groups in the Solomon Islands with Bible translation, beginning with the people of Rennell and Bellona. This was at the request of representatives from these two islands. Nico and Pam lived on the island from 1978 until 1984, when they moved to Honiara in order to also assist the Tikopian language group. The Rennellese New Testament was published in 1994. In 2011, David and Ribeka Tago started to work on the Old Testament.
The Tago family. Left to right: Philip, David, Grace, Ribeka, Helen.