Guajajára Bible (GUBWBT)

Overview

The Guajajara Bible, titled Tupan ze'eg ("Word of God") in the vernacular, is a complete Bible (without Deuterocanon) in the Guajajara language, a Tupi-Guarani language spoken by approximately 28,858 people in eleven Indigenous Lands in Maranhao State, Brazil [1][2]. Translation work on the Guajajara Scriptures was begun in 1960 by David and Margaret Bendor-Samuel, who were assigned by Wycliffe Bible Translators to the Guajajara people in the Amazon basin; during their years of service they translated portions of the New Testament, made gospel recordings, and composed hymns before being reassigned in 1969 to lead Wycliffe's UK operations [3]. The complete Bible was published in 2007 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc., with the printed edition bearing ISBN 9788531109713 [4]. The Guajajara, who call themselves Tenetehara ("we are the real human beings"), are one of the most numerous indigenous peoples of Brazil and have experienced over 380 years of contact with non-indigenous peoples, including Jesuit missions (1653-1755) and Capuchin missionaries against whom they revolted in 1901 [1][2].

Language and People

Guajajára (ISO 639-3: gub) is spoken by approximately 19,500 people in Eastern Central Brazil. [Glottolog: guaj1255]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by WBT, [Orlando, FL]. Translation type: First.

References