Kwaio New Testament (KWDWBT)

Overview

The New Testament in the Kwaio language of the Solomon Islands. Kwaio is a Southeast Solomonic language spoken by approximately 13,200 people in central Malaita Island, Malaita Province [1]. The translation project began in 2002, when George Tafoa started attending translation workshops organized by the Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group (SITAG), believing it was essential for his people to have God's Word in their own language [2]. In 2006, SITAG member Julie Savage was assigned to assist the project, and she worked alongside Tafoa and David Fonosimae on the translation [2]. When Tafoa left the project in 2009, Fonosimae continued as head translator and completed all New Testament books by July 2012 [2]. Following a final review by seven pastors in November 2012, typesetting was done in the United States, and 5,000 copies were printed in South Korea [2]. The printed Bibles arrived in the Solomon Islands on February 6, 2014, and were officially launched on April 19, 2014, in Gounabusu Village, East Malaita [2]. In April 2014, the Solomon Islands National Parliament acknowledged the Kwaio New Testament as the twenty-first Bible translation added to the nation's permanent display since independence in 1978, with Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, Speaker Sir Allan Kemakeza, and West Kwaio MP Peter Tom in attendance [3]. At a community celebration on Easter weekend in Sinaragu Village, East Malaita, men in traditional warrior attire danced to the center of the village with a canoe holding copies of the New Testament [3]. The vernacular title is "Fatalana God" [4].

Language and People

Kwaio (ISO 639-3: kwd) is spoken by approximately 13,200 people in Solomon Islands. [Glottolog: kwai1243]

Publishing and Organizations

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

References