The Colombian Bible Society has unveiled the primary full translation of the Bible into an indigenous language – Wayuunaiki, which can serve two indigenous ethnic teams in Colombia. The Wayú ethnic group makes up 20% of the indigenous inhabitants. Nasa folks, one other indigenous group, symbolize roughly 12.8%, in keeping with 2019 knowledge from the Nationwide Administrative Workplace of Statistics (DANE).
“We work hand in hand with indigenous communities in Colombia with two important targets: to protect their native language and to talk the language of their coronary heart by the Phrase of God. Because of this, along with the Wayú and Nasa communities, we translate the Bible into Wayuunaiki and Nasa Yuwe, whereas strengthening ties with the inhabitants ,” says the Columbia Bible Society.
It’s the first time {that a} full translation of the Bible into the native language has been accomplished within the nation. The venture required the experience of biblical students, native translators and language specialists to make sure that the that means and interpretation of the sacred textual content remained intact. “For these of us who can’t learn Spanish, it was tough to finish the interpretation, however now, with this useful resource obtainable in all our church buildings, we will make progress not solely in city areas but in addition in rural communities,” mentioned Deinles Epieyú, Wayú. A Christian chief in an interview with Caracol Information.
The interpretation, which took about 13 years to finish, is being celebrated as it can assist hundreds of people that battle with Spanish. Indigenous communities hope it can present vital non secular assist and additional strengthen group relations.
“For us, the interpretation of the Bible means improvement and progress for the Wayú folks. It advances each the linguistic improvement and grammar of our Wayuunaiki language, in addition to non secular progress,” mentioned Ramón Uriana Epieyú, a member of the Wayú group.
Alexander Gómez, head of the Colombian Bible Society, mentioned: “It’s a nice satisfaction as a result of we all know that there can be transformations on a private, group and socio-cultural degree. Each Wayú brother and sister who hears the Phrase of God of their native language will expertise the love that we have now God expresses.”
In the course of the presentation to the Wayú group, the group distributed 1,600 Wayuunaiki Bibles totally free. The aim is to offer not less than 10,000 copies this yr. The interpretation venture value 4.5 billion Colombian pesos (roughly 1.12 million US {dollars}) and was supported by donations from world wide.
The Wayú are the unique inhabitants of the Guajira Peninsula within the Caribbean Sea, who reside primarily within the northern a part of the Colombian division of La Guajira and within the northern area of the Venezuelan state of Zulia.
Whereas 97% of the Wayú communicate their conventional language, Wayuunaiki, and 32% communicate Spanish, 66% haven’t acquired a proper training. Regardless of efforts to combine the Spanish alphabet, the Wayú preserve a robust oral custom and prioritize collective values over particular person ones of their social interactions.
Initially revealed by Diario Cristiano, the Spanish version of Christian Every day Worldwide.
