The basis for renaissance

On November 23 in Kpandai, Northern Region, the dedication of the New Testament into the Nawuri language was held. The event was momentous for the Nawuri people, for GILLBT and indeed for all the peoples of Ghana. There are three reasons for this.

First, the Nawuri New Testament is the 29th translated by GILLBT and will not be the last. Therefore, the dedication again marked the contribution GILLBT has made and thus honors the vision of GILLBT’s founders including the late John Agama and William Ofori Atta.

Krachi Area Pastor of the Church of Pentecost, Rev. F. K Andoh and General Overseer of the Evangelical Church of Ghana, Rev. Daniel Gbande, hold the Nawuri New Testament

Second, for the Nawuri people the dedication marks another step in the development of their language. The translation of the New Testament is not a last step, but rather an additional step. Just as the translation of the New Testament required the collaboration of many, so will the next steps. But the primary responsibility is shifting away from international sponsors and even somewhat from GILLBT to the Nawuri community and national institutions in Ghana which must carry the work forward and sustain its good results.

Lastly, the dedication became a launching point for renaissance. Nana Akorie Atorsah II, the Kpandai Wura, the guest speaker for the occasion. He summed up his comments with words he first used at the Grand Finale Celebration for GILLBT @ 50.  Then, they were a powerful statement about the impact of Bible translation work! But in Nawuri land at the dedication, they served as a powerful call for the Nawuris to look beyond their current marginalization. Here are his words:

“Today is a great day for us the Nawuri people. We have never had a unique occasion as this! This is the beginning of great things for us! We have been neglected by Politicians but we have now been counted among God’s people!”

Thus he called on his people to develop the confidence that comes from the knowledge of also being “children of God.”

Nana Akorie Atorsah II, the Kpandai Wura

In the hands of a marginalized group, the notion of “children of God” can be a critical organizing principle, vision, and practical tool for transformation. In other words, for a marginalized group like the Nawuris, being counted among the “children of God” can be understood, and used as a key to transforming their perception of themselves, including their potentials and possibilities. It has in it the potential to empower the Nawuris. It reinforces GILLBT’s founding vision that the development of our languages, and the translation of the Bible into these languages, can be used as a platform for the transformation of our people.

We are confident that the statement “Now we are counted among the children of God” can inspire the Nawuris– and any group of marginalized people for that matter–to work for their transformation. Judging by the emotional and practical commitment shown by the chiefs and people –including their leadership, mobilization and funding of the dedication–we are confident the Nawuris will use the development of their language, and the translation of the Bible in the language, as a mobilizing tool for their socio-political and spiritual transformation. Friday the 23rd of November 2012 will go down the in history of Nawuri Traditional Area.

Description of the dedication and project summary

Ellen and Rod Casali, first Project Managers, are honoured

The dedication day brought international visitors and people from all parts of Ghana. They travelled a long and difficult road and crossed rivers with ferries to join the chiefs and people of Nawuri in Kpandai so that they could celebrate together.

Rod Casali, along with his wife Ellen, spent many years in the area (1985-1999) working preparing the ground for Bible translation in the Nawuri area. During that time, they did linguistic research and language development with the Nawuri language. Following the departure of Rod Casali, a Ghanaian national, John Adinyah and his wife, Janet were sent to continue the work. In addition, the work was supported by an able team: Derrick Attah, Jacob Damba and Christopher Asua in the translation department, Joseph Awumba and Simon Awumba assisting with Scripture Use promotion and Catherine Asunka as the Gendar Promotions Coordinator. Beside this office staffs are the many volunteer teachers, reviewers and dedicated Management Committee who assisted. In recounting the many obstacles they all faced, John Adinyah intimated that the joy of seeing dedication of the Nawuri New Testament could be likened to the resurrection experience which neutralized the pain of the cross. He thanked Wycliffe USA and One Book of Canada supporting the Nawuri language project.

Special mention was made of Revered Father Kofi, a Catholic Father who has stayed long among the Nawuri working on translating the Catholic Lectionary into the Nawuri language was very instrumental in the New Testament translation. Other churches such as the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), the Evangelical Christian Church, and the Church of Pentecost among others supported the Nawuri language project.

Janet and John Adinya, Project Manager, are honoured

Rev. Daniel Gbande, a native of Nawuri and the head pastor of the Evangelical Church of Ghana, as well as the Krachi Area Pastor of the Church of Pentecost Rev. F. K Andoh were supported by the many pastors and church leader who attended the ceremony to perform the dedication ceremony. Pastor Adams Amwumele, a pastor of Seventh Day Adventist Church gave a short exhortation on the need for unity in the community in order to foster rapid development of the area.

The District Chief Executive of the Kpandai area, Hon. Jaspar Moayi Jato on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament of the area expressed gratitude to GILLBT for its language development efforts and literacy work in the Nawuri area and reiterated the need to put translated New Testaments to good used in order to fulfill its intended purpose of life transformation.

The ceremony interjected with traditional dances of the Nawuris “Kakpankyan and Baya dances”. These victory dances were perfumed by their forebears whenever as hunters; they went on an expedition and had a great catch. They were using these dances to reminisce the joy, liberation and transformation that language development has brought to them and victory over inaccessibility to the word of God in their mother tongue. Their excitement was premised on the fact that Nawuri people who have felt marginalized by other language groups for a long time now have the requisite capacity through development of their language to transform their lives and communities. Sale of two Copies of the New Testament was auctioned at Gh¢720, Gh¢700 respectively. Many people bought copies of the New Testament on that day.

This article was edited by Ed Lauber from reports of the Nawuri dedication by GILLBT’s Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, and GILLBT staff member Mr. Michael Serchie.

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