After 13 years of work, one of the largest indigenous communities in Colombia will be able to read the entire Bible in their native language.
A moment of the presentation of the first Bible in Wayuunaiki.
The Bible Society of Colombia presented the first Bible in Wayuunaiki (or Wayu).
The translation took about 13 years, cost around 4.5 billion pesos (1.012.000 Euros), and received national and international donations.
The presentation of the Bible was attended by 500 representatives of the Wayuu community, public officials from the region, international leaders of the United Bible Societies, media, translators and the team of the Colombian Bible Society.
The translation comes as a major event in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Bible Society of Colombia, and is a contribution to the cultural richness of one of the most populated indigenous communities in the country.
The covers of the Bibles read Nünüiki Maleiwa, which means Word of God in Wayu.
This is the first time that a complete translation of the Bible into Wayuunaiki, the language of the Wayuu people of the Guajira, has been made.
For the Colombian Bible Society, “the translation of the Bible is more than a mere transcription of words, it is a process that requires a deep understanding of the culture and language of the community, with the rigorous preservation of the essence of the biblical text”.
That is why, since 2010, “there has been a hard work of commitment and dedication along with native translators, biblical science professionals, linguistic consultants, community leaders, translation partners and the community”.
The Colombian Bible Society will hand out 1,600 bibles in Wayuunaiki free of charge and has the goal of delivering at least 10,000 copies this year.
“It is a great satisfaction for us because we are aware that there are going to be transformations at a personal, community and socio-cultural level. The Wayuu brothers and sisters who hear the word of God in the language of their heart will be left with the love of God”, said Alexander Gómez, leader of the Colombian Bible Society.
“With this tool in all the churches we can make progress in areas that are not urban, but rural”, underlined Deinles Epieyú, a Wayuunaiki Christian leader.
"For us, the translation of the Bible means development, and the advancement of both the linguistic and grammar construction of our Wayuunaiki language as well as the spiritual aspects”, pointed out Ramón Uriana Epieyú, a member of the Wayú community.
The complete Bible has been translated into 677 indigenous languages, in response to requests from the communities and with the participation of native translators, representing approximately 9% of the world's indigenous languages.
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