Sidama speakers eagerly await
new translation

By UBS photojournalist Dag Smemo

ETHIOPIA — Awassa, where the Bible Society of Ethiopia is establishing a growing presence (see also), lies at the centre of the Sidama region of Ethiopia. Here, some two million people are known to speak Sidama as their mother tongue, while one million more speak it as their second language. An estimated 75 per cent are Christians, divided between 1,000 congregations.

Children at a school run by the Mekane Yesu (Lutheran) Church. Awassa, Ethiopia. Photo: Norwegian BS/Dag Smemo (ETH05DJ-239.JPG)

The New Testament in Sidama using Ethiopic script was published in 1990, followed in 2000 by an edition using Latin script. Now, though, a major collaborative venture is under way to translate the Old Testament into Sidama and to revise the earlier New Testament translation.

Partners

Alongside partners including Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Bible Society, the Roman Catholic Church and the Mekane Yesu Evangelical Church, the Danish Ethiopia Mission is involved in this project in the person of Bodil Lanting.

Strongly ecumenical

“This project began in 1998,” she explains. “It is strongly ecumenical, reflecting the fact that Sidama-speaking Christians are eager to have a Bible in their own language that all denominations can use. Church leaders often prefer to use Amharic rather than local languages, but it is clear that many young people, who also tend to speak Amharic, are interested in the few inexpensive Portions that we have already produced. In fact, they’re selling like hot cakes! The authorities support the wider use of Sidama in principle, but unfortunately this does not usually lead to financial support, so the Roman Catholic Church is bearing most of the financial burden for this project.

“I have found that Sidama-speaking Christians are very interested in improving their knowledge of the Bible. I know of several Bible study groups which meet weekly. Each of the 10 or so members prepares for the meeting at home using special study materials. At the meeting itself, there is a lot of discussion. We need more Portions for these groups, along with more materials to help people understand what they read in the Bible. A Bible handbook is already available in Amharic, and we would really like to publish this in Sidama too.

“Work is already under way on a Children’s Bible in Sidama, with financial support coming from Danish Sunday School teachers. The churches would like to see the Children’s Bible being made accessible to whole families.

“As for our main project, the Old Testament, we hope to complete the translation within the next two years. We will then begin revising the New Testament and may be in a position to publish the complete Sidama Bible by 2010. In the meantime, we are producing simple Selections based on Sidama Bible texts and these are also being broadcast on radio.” (WR 397/17 - 11.05) (4 photos]