Kamano-Kafe Bible (KBQWBT)

Overview

The Kamano-Kafe Bible, titled "Anumzamofo Ruotage Avontafere" in the vernacular, is a translation of Scripture into the Kamano language spoken by approximately 129,000 people in the Henganofi and Kainantu districts of Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea [1][2]. An earlier New Testament in Kamano-Kafe was published in 1978, but the community largely rejected that translation [3]. In 1999, SIL asked Rich Mattocks to begin a fresh translation effort, and Rich and Joyce Mattocks worked alongside Kamano-Kafe-speaking colleagues including translators Kossac, Tuas, and James for over two decades [3][4]. The revised New Testament was completed and dedicated on December 24, 2014 [3]. The team then continued with Old Testament translation, completing the full Bible in late 2022, making Kamano-Kafe one of the first 700 languages worldwide with a complete Bible [3]. In March 2023, 2,000 printed copies arrived and were dedicated, with Bibles sold at a subsidized price of approximately one day's wages (~$5.80 per copy) [3]. The project also produced audio recordings of the complete Bible, placing Kamano-Kafe among the first 500 languages with fully recorded Scripture, distributed via solar-powered audio players and micro-SD cards alongside translated films including The Jesus Film [3]. The copyright for the complete Bible is held by Tyndale Bible Translators, the organization Rich and Joyce Mattocks founded in 2017 after 25 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators [4][5].

Language and People

Kamano (ISO 639-3: kbq) is spoken by approximately 80,000 people in Papua New Guinea, Map 10. [Glottolog: kama1370]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. Translation type: New.

References