Nelen Yubu Missiological Unit

NELEN YUBU MISSIOLOGICAL UNIT

NYMU (the Nelen Yubu Missiological Unit) began in 1977 in the Northern Territory with the aim of working at the interface between Aboriginal society on the one hand and modern Australian evangelisation on the other. In the Ngangikurrungur language of the Daly River area nelen means 'way' and yubu means 'good' - a good way to travel.

Martin WilsonIts tools are the resources of anthropological and sociological research. It began publishing its observations and findings particularly in a missiological journal which, after the model of Anthropos , would give preference to reports from a field situation while endeavouring to maintain a respectable academic standard.

The journal began under the name of Tracks. When we found that ‘Tracks’ was already the name of another journal we renamed it Nymuna for issue No.4, and then Nelen Yubu, the name it kept until its demise. After issue No.80 at the beginning of 2002 we terminated publication of the journal. Later on in the year paid-up subscribers received a special issue of an index of the 81 numbers (there was a pilot edition at the very beginning).

Keren CalvertWe also prepared an archival CD in PDF format that was distributed to subscribers and others. Keren Calvert (at right) was a totally dedicated secretary from 1979 until her death in 2010--she proofread a projected publication early in that year and, true to style, found four typographical points to question within the first two pages! RIP

The first issue of eNY, i.e. Electronic Nelen Yubu commenced with the second chapter of Frank Fletcher's book Aboriginality and Jesus.  It did not progress any further.