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“Yoonu Njub” means The Way of Righteousness
The Way of Righteousness is an English translation of Yoonu Njub—a series of radio-programs originally written in the Wolof language for the Muslims of Senegal, West Africa. Beginning with the Torah of Moses, these one hundred 15-minute lessons take the listener on a journey through the Scriptures of the prophets to view God’s unchangeable purpose for mankind and to hear God’s thrilling answer to the prophet Job’s four-thousand-year-old question, “How can a man be righteous before God?” (Job 9:2)
Double Purpose
The reason for making these lessons available in English is twofold:
1. to facilitate translation into other languages for broadcast to Muslims around the world;
2. to promote reading by English-speaking Muslims and others who want to deepen their understanding of the stories and, especially, the message of God’s prophets.
The “very religious” Wolofs
The Wolof people, for whom this radio series was first produced, are the dominant ethnic group in Senegal—the West African nation on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. Wolofs are a proud, tall, black people, known for their wit and warmth, their storytelling and hospitality, their farming and fishing, their elegant clothes and excellent cuisine. Patience and peace are considered great virtues.
More than 99% of Wolofs claim to be Muslims. Wolof society revolves around the religion of Islam, with traditional African beliefs mixed in. The widespread use of charms and amulets is one example of their continued allegiance to their ancestral religion. To their Islamic and animistic practices, many Wolofs add the veneration of spiritual guides and intermediaries called marabouts, a common phenomenon in much of the Muslim world. As one Senegalese man told me, “To follow the requirements of Islam is good, but it does not provide assurance of salvation. The marabouts mediate for us and will help us get into paradise.”
In summary, most Wolofs are syncretists—seeking to satisfy the requirements of Islam, animism and maraboutism. Like the Athenians mentioned in Scripture, the Wolofs are “in all things very religious.” (Acts 17:22) But being religious does not make one righteous. As Wolof NDiaye (a fictional character credited as the source of Wolof wisdom) says, “Even if a log soaks a long time in water it will never become a crocodile.”
Background Story
In 1981, my wife and I and our one-year-old boy, backed by the fervent prayers of the Lord’s people, moved to Senegal—a unique majority-Muslim-nation that grants its people the basic right to choose what they will or will not believe. After spending a year in the capital city of Dakar, we settled in Saint Louis, a large town near the border of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Six years, two languages (French and Wolof), two children, and many painful, but profitable experiences later, we rejoiced to see one of our Wolof friends submit to God’s way of righteousness. Since then, it has been our privilege to witness God’s transforming work in the hearts and lives of several others who have declared their faith in the One about whom all the prophets wrote.
Shredded Scriptures in the Air
I look back to a scorching hot day in 1992 as the day that The Way of Righteousness radio-series was born. I, along with two of my Senegalese brothers, were in a town in northern Senegal. We were seeking to reason with folks concerning the message of God’s prophets and to distribute some illustrated booklets about the prophet Abraham and his sacrificial ram. After a while, some in the crowd began to tear up the literature and shout religious slogans. As we, with saddened hearts, watched them fling the shredded Scriptures into the air, I thought, “Is this really the best use of our time—watching people tear up the Word of God which they haven’t even read? What we need to do is to prepare a series of chronological lessons that clearly present the stories and message of God’s prophets and broadcast them on the national radio station. Then people all over the country can hear God’s message of salvation and make an intelligent choice whether to accept it or reject it.” I returned home that evening with this clear vision—and with a settled confidence that God would somehow open the necessary doors.
Scriptures on the Air
Within a few months, God opened the way for us to sign a two-year contract with Senegal’s national radio station for a once-a-week 15-minute-program that would present “the stories of the prophets according to the Bible.” It was during that two-year period that the radio-series Yoonu Njub came to be.
Today these Wolof programs are being aired about 30 times a week on various stations within Senegal. God has so worked that these lessons are also being translated and broadcast in the languages of many other Muslim people around the world. “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power…His Word runs very swiftly!” (Psalm 147:5,15)
Grateful Acknowledgments
I cannot claim originality for this series any more than one who arranges a bouquet can take credit for the fragrant aroma and exquisite beauty of the flowers. These lessons are a simple arrangement of the glorious Word of God and a display of the One who is “altogether lovely.”
While I am deeply indebted to many of God’s servants for the preparation of these lessons, I owe the most to Trevor McIlwain of Australia, the author of Firm Foundations (New Tribes Mission, Sanford, Florida). In his excellent studies, Mr. McIlwain uses the chronological method of presenting God’s Good News. Like many others, we have used and adapted many of McIlwain’s outlines and illustrations.
Malick, one of my beloved Wolof brothers in Senegal, and the voice of Yoonu Njub, has done a superb job of correcting and contributing ideas to the original hundred lessons written in the Wolof language. Eric and Eithne of England and Marilyn of Hawaii diligently labored to translate the New Testament and much of the Old Testament into the Wolof language which made our task immeasurably easier. Richard, a colleague from Australia, is the one who got the proverbial ball rolling so that these Wolof lessons could begin to be translated into other languages. He translated the series into English (almost word for word) while studying Wolof and playing the cassettes of these lessons for the men and women of the village where he and his family live. Richard has been a tremendous encouragement, as have many others, such as my coworker, Andreas of Germany, and Bill of North Carolina, who helped expand the radio and cassette ministry in Senegal. Russ and Nancy in South Carolina proofread the English text and provided helpful critiques and suggestions. Gerry in Massachusetts also proofread the lessons despite intense physical pain which has been her companion for more than twenty years. In New Jersey, Jani skillfully moved the mouse to format the text into a book. My brother Dave did the cover artwork.
I reserve my final expression of heartfelt thanks for my favorite (and only!) wife, Carol, and to our three faithful children, Andy, Corrie and Nathan, who have been a blessed support to me in this ongoing ministry. I could easily mention scores of others who have had a share in this project, but suffice it to say that, in the Lord’s work, we do nothing by ourselves. We are truly “laborers together” and are all eternally indebted to the Author and Finisher of the Plan of Salvation of whom these chronological lessons speak.
Paul Bramsen
Senegal, West Africa
1998
Send correspondence to:
E-mail:
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Or: The Way of Righteousness
PO Box 4006
Greenville, SC 29608-4006
NOTE: The English Scripture translation used in these one hundred lessons is the New International Version which is chosen for its simpler vocabulary. For personal Bible study, you may prefer a more literal translation such as the New King James Version which we have used in the preface and appendixes. All Scripture portions are italicized. Square brackets [ ] indicate that which has been paraphrased in order to express the way the verse was translated in Wolof, or for explanatory purposes. The Scripture references in parentheses and the information enclosed in the squiggly brackets { } are not intended to be read on the radio. This information is only for the reader.
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The Way of Righteousness 
