‘Different medium – the same source’: Bible Society considers radio

n Nativité Beka prepares a programme for broadcast at the evangelical Christian radio station Radio Fréquence Vie

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — In January this year readings of the New Testament in français fondamental (‘Basic French’) began on Abidjan’s evangelical Christian radio station, Radio Fréquence Vie (‘Life Frequency Radio’). Interest in the new translation is running high and the Bible Society of Côte d’Ivoire (BSCI) is hoping to receive a consignment of the complete Bible in the new translation before the end of this year.

Accessible

Launched last December in Paris (see WR 357/18-22), the translation was conceived to make the Bible accessible to French-speakers who could not cope with existing translations such as the français courant and the Colombe, and to provide a version in a common language for use by multilingual congregations.

With a vocabulary limited to some 3,500 words, the translation is easy to read for newly-literate people, for school children and for older people who find the français courant version difficult.

Major impact

“We are anticipating that the new Bible will be extremely popular here in Côte d’Ivoire,” says Jean Kouassi Kouame, General Secretary of the BSCI. “So many people are asking about it that I am sure it will have a major impact. We are already selling the children’s Bible in this translation and the New Testament and Portions have proved popular. People are now waiting for the new Bible.”

Having New Testament readings on the radio has contributed considerably to the interest. Radio Fréquence Vie started in Monrovia, Liberia, and for 30 years it broadcast to several West African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire. Later, the troubles and instability in Liberia brought about a move to Abidjan.

Broadcast direct

“The mission SIM (Serving in Mission, formerly Society of International Ministries) created this project in Abidjan in August 1999,” explains Bruno Lamy, the station director. “We were using a small studio here in Abidjan to prepare materials for broadcast from Liberia. SIM helped to set up the structure and technical facility so that this station could broadcast direct.”

The station is keen for all the churches to be involved in what it is doing. Its board consists of a representative from some 42 churches and organisations – of which the BSCI is one.

It is developing broadcast materials in vernacular languages such as Baoulé, Cebaara, Tagbana and Bété Daloa, and programmes in Mooré are also being considered.

Overlap

“In many ways we overlap with what the Bible Society is doing,” says Mr Lamy. “The medium is different but our source is the same.”

At some time in the future he is hoping the broadcasts will be transmitted via satellite, which will enable them to be heard far beyond Abidjan. At present it is estimated that 40 per cent of the population in and around the city listen to radio, but in the rural areas and further north and west the figure rises dramatically.

Children

One area giving problems to the station is children’s programmes. Radio Fréquence Vie needs expertise to develop these, but it is often hard to come by where local languages are concerned. On the other hand, if ever television broadcasting became an option there would be no shortage of Christian material for children.

At the moment the Bible Society is considering producing a regular 30-minute radio programme to raise general awareness of its work. New products could be announced, new Scriptures reviewed, and distribution and fundraising activities promoted – as well as the Bible itself.

Another area of interest to both parties is the production of literacy materials to help rural people improve their reading skills. The Bible Society’s New Reader Portions, while not primary resources in teaching literacy, could be used to help people develop their skills.

Dr Joachim Somé, a UBS Translation Consultant who oversees translation work in several Francophone countries, recalls the great interest there is in literacy training in the north.

Literacy

“I remember visiting a Roman Catholic literacy class run by Fr Calmart, an elderly French priest,” he says. “I was struck by the enthusiasm of the 50 or so people in the class, both young and older people. They could attend because at that time there was no work to be done in the fields.”

The Roman Catholic Church is committed to helping promote literacy, and such classes are still being taught in the right season. Mr Kouassi feels that some research could be done into finding out how nationwide broadcasting in local languages and literacy programs could complement each other.

Not merely print

“At the heart of these suggestions is the Bible, and what concerns the Bible concerns the Bible Society,” he says. “We are interested in any projects that would not only promote the Bible but encourage people to use the materials available and help them to see the Bible Society as a major source of biblical materials.