Introduction
The Bakossi project is for the people of the Western and Eastern slopes of Mount Mwanenguba and Mount Kupe, in Tombel, Nguti and Bangem Subdivisions; and Moungo Division, in Manjo Subdivision. Pastor Ngole is the Project Coordinator and comes from the Presbyterian Church and has been serving in the lead capacity, bringing good progress in the work. The project started in the 1970s, barring further difficulties, the current target date to finish 2011.
General Info
It has an estimated popu-lation of about one hundred sixty thousand inhabitants. The road network is difficult, which slows the supervision of activities especially in the rainy season. The majority are subsistence farmers and also grow coffee and cocoa as cash crops.
In August 2006, the four gospels were published with 200 copies printed. Over 90% of the New Testament is translated into the Akoose language. The rest should be drafted in 2008.
The following is some of the materials available in the Bakossi language: a traditional storybook, a guide for learning to read and write Bakossi, a dictionary, a grammar book, and a song-book. Other ongoing activities include vision sharing with church leaders, reading clubs in churches and choirs, and literacy programme in schools and in the community.
Many of Bakossi Christians are not well rooted in the Christian faith, so a good number of them are tied to traditional religious practices.
The Bakossi project was started by SIL in the 1970’s. CABTAL became involved in 2001. CABTAL is receiving funds for two aspects in Bakossi—the Bakossi Literacy project, which is planned to end in September 2010 and the Bakossi Translation project, planned to end in September 2011.
On the translation and literacy team, there are people from the following churches: Presbyterian, Catholic, Lutheran, Full Gospel, Apostolic Faith, and New Testament Church. There is an Inter Church Committee (ICC) with 8 denominations represented by their leaders. The ICC shares the Bible translation vision within the community, mobilises, prays and raises funds for support of the project. The Bakossi churches have a sense of ownership of the Bakossi New Testament and are promoting effective use of scriptural portions.
Expected results
In the long run, the Bakossi people’s lives will be transformed as a result of the development of the Bakossi language teaching materials and a functional literacy programme. In the near future, the New Testament will be produced, and will be received with joy and their faith will be strengthened.
Prayer points
Pray that God will continue to make his salvation and righteousness known to the Bakossi people so that; they can praise and extol Him. For great is the love
of God for this people. Read psalms 98:2, 117:1,2
Introduction
Le projet Bakossi vise le peuple des pentes occidentale et orientale du Mont Manéngouba et du Mont Koupé, de la province du Sud Ouest dans les arrondissements de Tombel, Nguti et de Bangem ; de la province du du littoral, dans le département du Moungo et dans l’arrondissement de Manjo.
Ce peuple compte environs cent trente six mille personnes. Le réseau routier est mauvais, ce qui ralenti la supervision des activités notamment pendant la saison des pluies. La plupart pratique une agriculture de subsistance et cultivent également des cultures de rente telles que le café et le cacao.
Information Générale
La majorité des chrétiens Ba-kossi ne sont pas bien affermis dans la foi chrétienne, ce qui fait que nombreux sont ceux qui sont attachés aux pratiques religieuses traditionnelles.
La SIL a commencé ce projet dans les années 1970. La CABTAL s’y est impliquée en 1993. La CABTAL recoit les pour deux aspects dans le projet Bakossi : Le projet d’alphabétisation qui se termine en 2010 et le projet de traduction, prévu se terminer en 2011.
Dans l’équipe de traduction et d’alphabétisation, il y a les membres des églises suivantes : Presbytérien, Catholique, Luthérien, Plein Evangile, Foi Apostolique et Eglise du Nouveau Testament. Il y a dans le projet, un Comité inter Dénominationnel (CID) avec 8 dénominations representées par leurs leaders. Les églises Bakossi ont le sentiment d’être propriétaire du Nouveau Testament en Bakossi et promeuvent l’utilisation effective des portions de l’Ecriture.
En aout 2006, les quatre evangiles ont ont été publiés en 200 exemplaires. Plus de 90% du Nouveau Testament est traduit dans la langue Akoose. Le reste doi l’être en cette année 2008.
Les documents suivants sont disponibles dans la langue Bakossi : un livre d’histoires, un guide pour apprendre à lire et écrire Bakossi, un dictionnaire livre de grammaire, un livre de cantiques. Les autres activités en cours sont notamment le partage de la vision avec les responsables d’église, les clubs de lecture dans les églises et les chorales ainsi que le programme d’alphabétisation dans les écoles et dans la communauté.
Résultats escomptés
À terme, les vies des populations Bakossi seront transformées grâce au développement des matériels d’enseignement de la langue Bakossi et d’un programme d’alphabétisation fonctionnel. Dans un avenir proche, le Nouveau Testament et des portions de l’Ancien Testament seront produits et seront reçus avec joie et la foi de cette communauté sera renforcée.
Sujets de prière
Priez pour que Dieu continue à révéler son salut et sa
justice au peuple Bakossi pour qu’il puisse le louer
et l’exalter. Car grand est l’amour de Dieu pour
son peuple. Lire les psaumes 98 :2, 117 :1, 2.
New Testament Dedicated
The New Testament was given a standing ovation on November 19th, 2011 at the Tombel Municipal Stadium, when it was brought in for dedication
Forhie
How interesting, testing sessions can be
We scheduled a testing and checking session in the northern part of Bakossi particularly in Niniong clan on the 16th of February, 2010. Before this time, we had never actually organized a testing session in that area. Not only did we prepare enough testing questions, we expected to respond to questions related to the translation work in general.
Prior to our arrival, we had sent notice to our host, the parish pastor of the Presbyterian Church who did his best in mobilizing and sensitizing the population towards our mission. When on the evening of the 15th February we arrived, news of our arrival had spread in the neighborhood. That day we were given a hectic reception and after the evening’s devotion, we retired for the night. That night, we prayed again to God to make our journey a success.
The next Tuesday, happened to be a market day and we suggested the testing session should take place in the market square. There were many people in the market.
The testing was just about to begin in the little house where we were, I later on learnt that women and youth were not always allowed to enter into it. This meant that the testing was going to be attended only by men. Then just before we started, an announcement was made; ‘Today is special day and for this reason, only for today, women and youth were allowed to enter this sacred house to listen to God’s word’. Many people did not move from their sits. Then I began reading the scripture from the letter to the Philippians. Then slowly, men, women and the youth crammed in, by the time I finished reading the translated Scripture. There was some murmuring, then silence. Then an elderly man seated close to me, who all along I read did not take off his eyes from the book as I read said; ‘My children, may God who called you, inspired you and gave you the knowledge to do this work be praised forever. May He protect you and guide you through this daunting task until I hold a copy of the Bible translated into my mother tongue in my hands’.
The principal of the only college that exists in that area, also said, ‘Brothers, I had looked on you people with respect as people engaged of what I have just listened. Keep it up and God bless you’
Then we also read st.Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. When I read Eph.5;22-28, there was some more murmuring then silence. At a certain point, a man of about 60 spoke up; He said ‘Susan did you just hear what has just been said? That women should summit to their husband!’ He was referring to his wife. This remark pushed many people to laugh; and so we gave them a few minutes to discuss. During and after the session, we asked question which they responded clearly. They in turn asked a few questions and received satisfactory responses. We received congratulatory remarks for a job well done.
NKWELLE NGOME JOSEPH
Scripture promoter
Last modified: 2012-07-16
