Project Summary
2020
The translation project for Kihehe Bible started in January 2001 and was expected to end in December; 2016. However, due to reasons beyond our control including inadequate funding the completion date has been revised to 2020.The Translation of the New Testament was completed and published and officially launched in September 2010; and the translation of the Old Testament is still in progress, with all books already translated and few of the books needed to be checked by our Translation Consultant. This is the first Bible translation for Kihehe speakers.
In 2020 we plan to continue with harmonization the the OT and NT, Community review, Computer Assisted Publisher (CAP) checks and Translation Consultant’s (TC’s) checks.
It is desired that in 2020 the following activities will be carried out:-
- Continue harmonization all OT and NT
- Community reviewing
- CAP checks of all the books
- Translation Consultant checks of all the remaining books.
- Publishing and printing the book of Proverbs as a Portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
- Proofreading the Kihehe Bible
- Typesetting, printing and publishing Kihehe Bible
Traditionally the Kihehe community is marred by evil practices such as committing suicides, witchcraft, alcoholism, polygamy and adultery. Kihehe speakers have longed to have the Bible in their mother tongue for many years; so the continuing translation is a blessing to this community. The request for translation of the Bible in Kihehe came from the churches in the project area and the chosen translators were recommended by the churches and the local community. The Bible Society is experienced in working with translation projects and therefore, we will use easy language so that the message of the Bible is accessed to all kihehe readers, and therefore have positive effect on church growth and deepening of personal faith that will lead to changed behavior in the community by minimizing the bad practices. Also having the Bible in their language will not only help them to understand the Bible better, but it will also help preserve their language and cultural heritage.
It is targeted that a total of 1,457,000 people will benefit from this project.Our partners in this project are Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal churches in the project area. The Bible Society has learnt that, Church involvement in the Bible cause brings great success to Bible translation work.
This project is in line with the Philadelphia promise and the Bible Society of Tanzania Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022)
2019
The translation project for Kihehe Bible started in January 2001 and was expected to end in December; 2016. However, due to reasons beyond our control including inadequate funding the completion date has been revised to 2020.The Translation of the New Testament was completed and published and officially launched in September 2010; and the translation of the Old Testament is still in progress, with some of the books already translated and checked by our Translation Consultant.
This is the first Bible translation for Kihehe speakers. In 2019 we plan to continue with harmonization, review, Computer Assisted Publisher (CAP) checks and Translation Consultant’s (TC’s) checks.
It is desired that in 2019 the following activities will be carried out:-
- Continue harmonization all the books from Genesis to Revelation
- Reviewing all the Books
- CAP checks of all the books
- Translation Consultant checks of all the remaining books.
- Publishing and printing the book of Proverbs as a Portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
Traditionally the Kihehe community is marred by evil practices such as committing suicides, witchcraft, alcoholism, polygamy and adultery. Kihehe speakers have longed to have the Bible in their mother tongue for many years; so the continuing translation is a blessing to this community. The request for translation of the Bible in Kihehe came from the churches in the project area and the chosen translators were recommended by the churches and the local community.
It is targeted that a total of 500,000 people will benefit from this project.
Our partners in this project are Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal churches in the project area. The Bible Society has learnt that, Church involvement in the Bible cause brings great success to Bible translation work.
This project is in line with the Philadelphia promise and the Bible Society of Tanzania Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022)
Other Resources Wanted
- Translation Consultant.
- The Bible Society of Tanzania does not have its own Translation Consultant.It depends on hired Consultants for checking the translated and harmonized books.
Project Goal
To make available the Bible available in the Kihehe language for faith and spiritual enhancement among the Kihehe language speakers.
Project goal’s relationship to overall bible society strategy
To translate the Bible in Kihehe language for mission work among Kihehe speakers. This is in line with the Bible Society’s
Strategic objectives that emphasizes the Society’s responsibility of facilitating translation of the Bible into languages without Bible, publish, and print the same – making it available to the community as the Word of God helping them to grow both in faith and spiritually.
Strategic Fit
Connecting your project to your Bible Society’s overall mission strategy
How does your project relate to the Philadelphia Promise?
The Philadelphia Promise affirms the fellowship commitment to make the Work of God available to all people in languages they prefer or understand better through the process of translation, publishing, printing, distribution, Bible engagement and advocacy. This translation project therefore, falls in line with the Promise.
About the beneficiaries
How did you arrive at your beneficiary impact number?
This is according to the Tanzanian Government records and Joshua Project
Beneficiary focus
A large percentage (63.7%) of the population is Christian. The rest is either Muslim or follows the traditional religion.
How have the needs and perspective of the beneficiaries helped shape the design of the project?
Thorough research was done before Kihehe translation started. The Church in the language area requested the Bible Society to facilitate the translation and was ready to partner by providing translators, reviewers and office space.
National Context
Kihehe is spoken around Iringa region, by around 1,457,000 ,000 people. One of the desires of the Hehe Christians is a translation of the Bible in their mother tongue. The project aims at translating the entire Bible into this language. Having the Scriptures in their language will not only enable them to understand the Bible better, but it will also serve to preserve their language and their cultural heritage.
The New Testament has just been published, and the translation of the Old Testament is well underway.
Need
Involvement of all churches is crucial to achieve a good reception of the translated Word.
The completion of the translation of the Bible can be improved or expedited if more funding was made to hire the translators on full time basis. Currently the translators are also given assignments by their Diocese. They must be attached to the church because what they are paid by the project is too little to sustain their living-With the current pace of translation the work may not be completed according to schedule..
How this project will help the beneficiaries
Availability of the Word of God in Kihehe language will impart Bible knowledge to the language speakers that will help them to grow in faith and spirituality – such knowledge will help them to ward off evil practices like occult, idolatry, rampant suicide behavior and polygamy.
Scripture & Prayer
Key Verse
Matthew 28:19-20
Prayer points
Pray for wisdom and perseverance for the translators.
Pray for unity and harmony among translators representing different denominations and church traditions.
Pray for God’s blessings to all who generously donate their money to fund the project
Project Activities
Project activities
2020
- Continue harmonization all OT and NT
- Community reviewing
- CAP checks of all the books
- Translation Consultant checks of all the remaining books.
- Publishing and printing the book of Proverbs as a Portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
- Proofreading the Kihehe Bible
- Typesetting, printing and publishing Kihehe Bible
Project partners
The partner churches involved are the Anglican Church, the Roman-Catholic Church,and the Lutheran church
-The Church provides the Translators and Reviewers.
-Monitor translation work on a day to day basis.
-Encourage and motivate translators in doing quality job
-Provide office for translation work
The Bible Society of Tanzania:
– pay monthly honoraria to translators
-Train translators on different translation programmes like Para-text, computer use
-Reviewers to facilitate review sessions to ensure good quality translation
-Provide equipment like computers, printers and utilities like stationery
The United Bible Societies – Global Bible Translation :
-Provides translation Consultant
– Provides training for new translators
– Provide training on new translation programmes.
Resourcing the Project
Non-financial Resources
Translation Consultant
Outputs & Impacts
Outputs from the project
Internal review; the full Bible
TC checks to all remaining books continues
Printing of the Bible stories
Impact
-
Impact 1
Short term impact
- Increase in translation skills among translators
- A strong relationship between churches and Bible Society built
- Unity among Church denominations enhanced
- Increased enthusiasm and inquiries on the full Bible among the Kihehe speakers.
Long term impact
- Increased understanding of the Bible message.
- Increased denominational unity among churches.
- Increased skill and knowledge for translators
- Increased sell of Bibles.
- Kihehe speaker’s traditions and culture archived.
- Churches equipped with a tool of evangelism.
- Increased demand for Scriptures
- Reduced number of malpractices in the community such as: – Adultery, Early childhood marriages, polygamy, drunkenness, witchcraft, stealing, etc.
- Increased awareness about the Bible Society.
Tracking unexpected outcomes
– By hand to hand followup we will identify and record unexpected outcomes
– Visit the community in their locality and record such outcomes
Supporting Information
Supporting Documents & Multimedia Assets
Research
The New Testament in Kihehe was launched in 2009 and the enthusiasm shown at the event was amazing. The survey carried out recently in the area shows that all the 2000 copies of the New Testaments supplied to the Church in Iringa were immediately distributed and there is demand for copies that necessitates reprinting. The outcome of the survey justified continuation of the translation of the Old Testament in Kihehe.
Testimonies
John Sanga of Kihesa area in Iringa town, is a Kihehe language speaker. Here he gives his testimony after reading the Portion of Deuteronomy in his heart language. He had this to say; “I read the Deuteronomy Portion in Kihehe and I am very much impressed by this message in my mother tongue. I could understand better than when I read it in Swahili language. I am very much motivated to continue reading the Bible in my language, and look forward to seeing the full Bible in Kihehe”
Leadership track record
The Bible Society of Tanzania has good track record after undertaking many projects successfully. The Bible Society has a stable and able leadership that keeps close followup on projects implementation.
The Bible Society also has Translation Manager who keeps close followup on translation projects.
External references
Bishop Mdegela of the Lutheran Church – Dioces of Iringa has this to say: “Please continue with this noble task of translating the Word of God in Kihehe because it will enhance mission work in my diocese. I am impressed by what the Bible Society is doing”
Similarly, the Catholic Bishop of Iringa Rt Rev. Tarcisisus Ngalalekumtwa gave his encouraging remarks asking the Bible Society to keep with the good job they are doing.
Best practices
The Church leaders and the community cooperation with translators is quite motivating and engaging.
The Bible Society involvement creates confidence in the implementation of this project.