Ethiopia’s Kafa people welcome
New Testament
 BONGA,
Ethiopia — The Kafa people of southwest
Ethiopia are most famous for having discovered and pioneered the use
of coffee in the third century. On April 7, however, they celebrated
another significant milestone in their history – the launch of the New
Testament in their language.
Ethiopia’s 600,000 Kafa speakers have
a strong Christian tradition and have had parts of the Bible available
in their language since 1934. It was only in 1981, however, that a team
of translators from the Word of Life Church (WLC) and the Society
for International Ministries (SIM), with help from the Bible
Society of Ethiopia (BSE) and the UBS, began working on the New
Testament.
At the launch ceremony held in Bonga, Ruth
Cremer, who co-ordinated the translation project, outlined the history
of the Kafa New Testament, and paid tribute to the translators. The day
after the launch ceremony, 3,000 people attended a praise celebration
in Channa, 75 km (47 miles) from Bonga. Work has already begun on the
Old Testament. (WR 361/11 - 7/8.01) e-147 [PHOTOS]
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