Archbishop reckons up benefits of interconfessional translations

Having been a Bible translator himself, Monsignor Anselme Titianma Sanon, RC Archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, is sympathetic to the Bible cause

Monsignor Anselme Titianma Sanon, Roman Catholic Archbisop of Bobo-Dioulasso, examining the new Children’s Bible in Françai Fondamental (basic French). Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Photo UBS/Geoffrey Stamp (BRK01C-5/4A)

BOBO-DIOULASSO, Burkina Faso — “At one stage I thought that Bobo would not survive as a language in its own right but the Scriptures in Bobo have done much to preserve our language [Bobo Madaré is his mother tongue] and have even created new concepts for us such as charity, love, [and] the ceremony of the bread and wine, to name just a few. I have come to realise that a language can generate transformation in a culture, especially when it is written down and available in print.

“Another benefit is that church songs and songs relating to the Christian faith are now being composed in Bobo. One of my catechists here is writing songs based on biblical texts.

Faith deepened

“Translation work has helped my own faith to deepen and grow. When you compare languages you begin to gain a broader understanding of the terms used in the Bible. You also benefit from the experience of other translators.”

• The interconfessional Bobo Madaré translation project got under way in 1990-91 and the New Testament was published in 1996.

“We have had to cope with many dialect variations. We are still trying to find the best way of rendering certain terms such as ‘washing someone in the waters of baptism’. We have a term but it relates to a form of ceremonial washing prescribed by a traditional healer! Now we are eagerly awaiting the publication of the Bobo Bible.”

• The Archbishop has also been involved with another interconfessional project, the Jula translation. There are reckoned to be a million or more speakers in Burkina Faso for whom Jula is the first language.

“We are hoping to receive the Jula Bible soon. We will endeavour to address the needs of the smaller language groups after these two projects have been completed.

“God’s Word plays a great part in fostering the interconfessional spirit. When Protestants and Catholics realise that they refer to the same Bible, it can sometimes surprise them. We need unity to show people of other faiths that we serve the same God, the same Lord, Jesus Christ. This is especially important here where we are a minority among Muslims.

“The New Testament on audio cassette will help people to memorise parts of the Bible. It can also be useful in teaching and studying the Bible such as in catechism classes. Our aim is that everyone should have a degree of literacy by the time they reach their final communion or adult baptism. Those being confirmed are asked to read from the Bible during the service. It is always better to be able to read the Bible for oneself.”

• The archbishop was asked about the animist traditions and in particular the strong powers – of divination and cursing – attributed to ‘masks’.

Mr Paul Ilboudo, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Burkina Faso, standing beside what is known locally as a mask – a member of a secret group of elders who dress in costumes and appear especially during festivals. Near Bala, west Burkina Faso. Photo UBS/Geoffrey Stamp (BRK01C-7/7A)

“In some villages the mask tradition has incorporated Christian figures. I know of one where they have a John the Baptist mask, which comes out on ceremonial occasions to greet the people. Another village has a Pope [John] Paul II mask.”

• He added that it was hard to break with traditions but some were absorbed into the church and the evil power they once had was removed.

“Church history is full of examples of this from the establishment of Christianity in Europe and earlier. Sooner or later there is a cleansing process and the chaff is blown away by the wind.”

• He also encouraged the Bible Society to develop its relationship with the Catholic Church.