Back in 2009, when I had just arrived in Musoma, I got to attend the dedication of the first book of the Bible translated in the Zinza language: Genesis. (Here is the link to that story.) Now, four years later, I again traveled by car and ferry back to the Zinza area for another Scripture celebration--this time, for the first completed book of the New Testament: Luke.
The Zinza are a small people group in northern Tanzania. Many of them live on islands in the south of Lake Victoria, others in the region along the shore. They're mainly fishermen, although the village we visited (on the mainland) is in an area known for pineapples! Most of the Zinza are very poor, even by Tanzanian standards, and they feel marginalized by the larger people groups in that part of the country. An alphabet developed and books published in their language affirms their cultural identity--and their value in God's eyes. Since education is low, many Zinza do not know Swahili well enough to read the Bible well. Translations into Zinza are needed and appreciated!
When my teammates and I arrived in the village where the celebration was to be held, we were met by one of the pastors in charge, Stefano Kamahanga. He welcomed us warmly, obviously excited about the ceremony ahead. However, very few other people were around (and we'd purposefully come "late"!) Stefano explained that there had been a funeral, and many people were still returning home. I love how unavoidable delays cause so little fuss in this country; we'd start once we were ready.
Meanwhile, food preparations were underway.
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| These ladies are sorting rice, peeling potatoes, and pounding grain. |
Tim turned his vehicle into a booth beside the road. He set out books, tracts, and literacy materials in Zinza and played some Zinza scripture recordings for passersby to hear. That got lots of attention!
We ladies just had to get a picture in our colorful dresses! I'm on the right, Pastor Stefano's wife is on the left, and the rest are teammates. Chris (wearing blue dress in center) is married to Tim, in the previous picture. They have worked with the Zinza translation project for the last decade.
Pastor Stefano began the ceremony once a small crowd had gathered. We were meeting next to a little church building, under canvases put up for shade. The clouds looked a little threatening, but Stefano urged everyone to stay, explaining that God would take care of his event! Indeed, we did get some very light rain later, but people just put up more tarps to shelter the growing crowd, and it never rained hard enough to affect the proceedings.
Along the front of the covered area sat local church leaders and several key people in the translation work. In the foreground here are the two Zinza translators with Tim, the translation advisor. (You can see Tim and Chris' son, Braden, also--read more about him here.)
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| Zinza translation team, L-R: Beltazari, Lukafuba, Tim |
I love watching the choirs! We had several, each group performing at least two or three songs.
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| This girl has to be my favorite Tanzanian choir leader EVER. So expressive! |
We were also treated to some traditional Zinza music and dance. The drums, shakers, and whistles built up the rhythm, and people from the audience came forward to join the circling dance, swaying lower and lower as the music continued. A couple of the missionary guys bravely joined, too! The crowd loved it.
By then the crowd had really swelled: standing room only!
These kids were first merely peeking over the curtain behind our seats in the front corner of the enclosure. Eventually curiosity won out over caution. They were especially intrigued to see themselves in the display screen on my camera.
Speeches were given by several church leaders. I don't remember this fellow's name, but he preached a great message. Also memorable was Pastor Stefano (in the cream-colored suit) as he translated the Swahili into Zinza. The speaker was highly expressive, in voice inflection and in movement, and Stefano imitated every tone and gesture!
Finally it was time to parade in the ceremonial first boxes of the new books. Somehow I found myself part of the procession! I felt very honored (and rather self conscious--I can't dance!). As the gift-wrapped boxes were danced up to the front, we followed behind, clapping, singing, and dancing (well, some of us). The audience added their voices, singing, cheering, and trilling.
Padre Balingi, a Catholic priest and the ceremony's keynote speaker, stood and gave his own message. He spoke passionately about the blessing of having God's Word in the Zinza language, sharing the history of the project and urging everyone to read Luke's Gospel for themselves.
Both of these leaders, Balingi and Stefano, impressed me with their dedication to God and to their people. Oh, and did I mention that Stefano is a Pentecostal pastor? And here they are, Catholic and Pentecostal, working together. Both have been on the advisory committee for the Zinza translation project for quite some time. Chris told me this is one way she's seen God use Bible translation, even before books are completed. These men have said it themselves: "This project has given us a reason to come together!"
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| Padre Balingi and Pastor Stefano hold up the new book for all to see. |
Afterwards a meal was served, and in the meantime people swarmed to buy their own Luke copies. Translator Beltazari and my teammate Ronit (who has done a lot of linguistic work for the Zinza project) handled the distribution.
what JOY!
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