Kabiye New Testament Launched

by The Rev Wolanyo K Amegah, General Secretary, Bible Society in Togo

KARA, Togo — Launched on January 25, 1997, the Kabiye New Testament was welcomed by the Bible Society board Chairman as 'God's own foundation for evangelisation'. "We must work to ensure that other languages have their own translation because it is God's will that people of all languages and cultures should praise him," he added.

Joys and sorrows

The 4,500-seat hall was packed near to capacity as stories of the 11-year translation project – the joys as well as the sorrows – were recalled by some of those involved, many of whom had travelled from overseas to attend. There were groups from the USA, Belgium, Holland and England, representatives from SIL, Lomé and Kara, as well as political figures representing the government and people from the different churches.

Following the reading of a passage from Matthew's Gospel in Kabiye, the director of SIL expressed her special thanks to all those who had helped produce the new Scripture, but she added that there was still much work to be done. It was not good enough for people just to have the New Testament to look at in their homes, or to carry around simply to show others. "Why does God not yet speak in all languages?" she asked. "We must work to make his Word available in all the languages of the Togolese people!"

'Mosaic'

Such efforts were applauded by the Technical Counsellor of the Ministry of Planning, who confirmed that the authorities would support all the Society's efforts in translation for the country's 'mosaic of languages'. And he gave particular thanks for harmonious co-operation between the authorities and translation teams. Likewise, thanks were also expressed to the authorities for their efforts to teach Kabiye in schools and in literacy projects.

Then the people were treated to the genealogy of Christ from the Gospel of Matthew expressed in the traditional Kabiye style and intonation, and finally, as the copies of the New Testament were displayed for all to see, everyone in the hall burst into applause, before the first copies went on sale.

Background:
The first translation work on the Kabiye Bible was done by Father Brungard in 1936, and many years later, in 1961, Pastor Delord succeeded in publishing the Gospel of Luke in Kabiye. The first Kabiye New Testament was published in 1984 by Father Adjola.
UBS Translation Consultant-in-Training: Dr Ettien Koffi (Bible Society in Benin).
Estimated number of speakers: 1.2 million.

This page was last updated on Thursday, 22nd May 1997.