Project Summary
2020
The translation project for Kikagulu Bible started in January 2001 and was expected to end in December; 2016.The completion date has been revised to 2020, due to reasons beyond our control including inadequate funding. The New Testament was completed, Published and officially launched in September 2010; and the translation of the Old Testament is still in progress, with some of the books translated and checked by our Translation Consultant.This is the first Bible translation for Kikagulu speakers.
In 2020 we plan to continue with Team review,Community review, Computer Assisted Publisher (CAP) checks and Translation Consultant’s (TC’s) checks.
It is desired that up to 2020 the following activities will be carried out:-
- Continue harmonization OT and NT books.
- CAP checks all books
- Translation Consultant will be checking all remaining old testament books
- Publishing and printing the book of Lamentation as a portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
- Proofreading the Kikaguru Bible
- Typesetting, printing and publishing Kikaguru Bible
Traditionally the Kikagulu community is marred by evil practices such as witchcraft, alcoholism, polygamy and idolatry. Kikagulu people have longed to have the Bible in their mother tongue for many years. This continuing translation is a blessing to this community. It is expected that, availability of the Bible in Kikagulu language will have a positive effect on church growth and deepening of personal faith that will lead to changed behavior in the community-minimizing the bad practices. Having the Bible in their language will not only enable them to understand the Bible better, but it will also help preserve their language and cultural heritage.
It is targeted that a total of 405,00 people will benefit from this project.
Our partners in this project are Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, 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 in line with Philadelphia promise and the Bible Society of Tanzania Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022)
2019
The translation project for Kikagulu Bible started in January 2001 and was expected to end in December; 2016.The completion date has been revised to 2020, due to reasons beyond our control including inadequate funding. The New Testament was completed, Published and officially launched in September 2010; and the translation of the Old Testament is still in progress, with some of the books translated and checked by our Translation Consultant.
This is the first Bible translation for Kikagulu 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 up to 2019 the following activities will be carried out:-
- Continue harmonization all books.
- CAP checks all books
- Translation Consultant will be checking all remaining old testament books
- Publishing and printing the book of Leviticus as a portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
- Proofreading the Kikaguru Bible
- Typesetting, printing and publishing Kikaguru Bible
Traditionally the Kikagulu community is marred by evil practices such as witchcraft, alcoholism, polygamy and idolatry. Kikagulu people have longed to have the Bible in their mother tongue for many years. This continuing translation is a blessing to this community. It is expected that, availability of the Bible in Kikagulu language will have a positive effect on church growth and deepening of personal faith that will lead to changed behavior in the community-minimizing the bad practices. Having the Bible in their language will not only enable them to understand the Bible better, but it will also help preserve their language and cultural heritage.
It is targeted that a total of 250,000 people will benefit from this project.
Our partners in this project are Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, 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 in line with 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 Kikaguru language for faith and spiritual enhancement among the Kikaguru language speakers.
Project goal’s relationship to overall bible society strategy
To translate the Bible in Kikaguru language for mission work among Kikaguru 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?
We arrived at the beneficiary impact number after doing a research and also using Government data and Joshua Project source
Beneficiary focus
The Bible will give access of the word of God to people of all ages, all Christian denominations, as well as people of other faiths. A large percentage of the Kikaguru tribe is Christian. Some few are Muslim and others still cling to traditional faith.
How have the needs and perspective of the beneficiaries helped shape the design of the project?
Thorough research was done before Kikaguru 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
Kikaguru is spoken near Morogoro, by around 405,000 people. They are looking forward to a translation of the entire Bible (including the Deuterocanonical books) in their mother tongue. This project has been underway for several years now. The New Testament was completed,printed in 2009 and launched in May 2010. 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 is now in distribution in the target audience area. The translators work exceedingly hard on the Old Testament and Deutero-Canonical books. One of the translators has been to Ghana for training on the translation of the DC books.
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 Kikaguru 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 OT and NT books.
- CAP checks all books
- Translation Consultant will be checking all remaining old testament books
- Publishing and printing the book of Lamentation as a portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
- Proofreading the Kikaguru Bible
- Typesetting, printing and publishing Kikaguru Bible
2019
- Continue harmonization all books.
- Reviewing all books
- CAP checks all books
- Translation Consultant will continue checking all remaining old testament books
- Publishing and printing the book of Leviticus as a portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
Project partners
The partner churches involved are the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Baptist Church:
The Diocese provides the Translators and Reviewers.
Monitoring of translation work on a day to day basis.
Encouraging and motivating translators in doing quality job
Provide office for translation work
The Bible Society of Tanzania:
paying monthly honoraria to translators
Training translators on different translation programmes like Para-text, computer use
Training of reviewers to facilitate review sessions to ensure good quality translation
Providing equipment like computers, printers and utilities like stationery.
The United Bible Societies – Global Bible Translation (GBT):
Provides Translation Consultant
Provide training on new translation programmes.
Outputs & Impacts
Outputs from the project
2020
- Continue harmonization OT and NT books.
- CAP checks all books
- Translation Consultant will be checking all remaining old testament books
- Publishing and printing the book of Lamentation as a portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
- Proofreading the Kikaguru Bible
- Typesetting, printing and publishing Kikaguru Bible
2019
- Continue harmonization all books.
- Reviewing all books
- CAP checks all books
- Translation Consultant checks all remaining old testament books
- Publishing and printing the book of Leviticus as a portion
- Para-text training for translators
- CAP follow up and monitoring
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 Kikaguru 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.
- Kikaguru 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
- Kikaguru Review Team at work.jpg
- Kagulu speaker reading the portion of Job.She was happy to receive the Portion.
Research
The New Testament in Kaguru was launched in May 2010 in a very colourful ceremony which was attended and cheered by thousands of Kaguru speakers. The enthusiasm shown at the event was amazing. Distribution of the New Testaments is still continuing in churches among the Kaguru area.
A quick survey has shown that despite of 50% discount on the price of the New Testament many cannot afford to buy one.
Testimonies
Canon Msegu of Morogoro town, is a Kaguru language speaker. Here he gives his testimony after reading the Portion of Job in his heart language. He had this to say; “I read the Job Portion in Kikaguru and I am very much impressed by this message and the language translated 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 Kikaguru”.
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
Catholic Bishop of Morogoro Rt Rev. Theodos Mkude 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.