Kawyaw New Testament — Manumanaw Karen New Testament (Myanmar)
Overview
The Kawyaw New Testament is a 29-book scripture collection (27 NT books plus 2 additional books, likely Psalms and Proverbs) in the Manumanaw (Kawyaw) Karen language of Kayah State, Myanmar, published by The Seed Company in 2020 and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 3651). Speakers use the autonym Kayah, connecting them to the broader Kayah (Red Karen/Kayan) cultural identity of Kayah State (Karenni State). The Manumanaw Karen are distinct from the standard Eastern Kayah Li (eky) but closely related — both are Kayah/Red Karen Karenic languages. This publication represents a significant translation milestone for the Kawyaw/Manumanaw community.
Language and People
Manumanaw Karen (ISO 639-3: kxf; alternate name: Kawyaw, Kayah Western; autonym: Kayah) is a Tibeto-Burman language: Sino-Tibetan → Tibeto-Burman → Karenic branch → Kayah sub-group. The Kayah (Karenni/Red Karen) sub-group includes Eastern Kayah Li (eky), Western Kayah/Kawyaw (kxf), Kayan (pdu), and related varieties. Kawyaw/Manumanaw Karen is the western variety of the Kayah language complex, while Eastern Kayah Li is spoken further east in Kayah State. The Kayah autonym reflects the community's identification with the broader Kayah/Karenni cultural identity.
The Manumanaw Karen community inhabits:
- Kayah State (Karenni State), eastern Myanmar — the hilly and forested territory between Karen State and Shan State
- Particularly the western portions of Kayah State
Estimated speakers: approximately 30,000–80,000 (the broader Kayah/Karenni population of Kayah State is ~300,000; Manumanaw specifically is smaller).
Cultural Context
Kayah State (known as Karenni State until independence) is one of Myanmar's smallest and most historically contested states. The Karenni (Kayah) peoples never formally ceded sovereignty to the British, and various Karenni resistance organizations have fought for autonomy/independence since Myanmar's independence in 1948. The Kayah state is known for the Kayan Lahwi (Padaung/Long-neck Karen) women, whose brass neck rings attract international attention, though the Kayan are a sub-group distinct from the Manumanaw. The Seed Company NT provides scripture for both the significant Christian minority in Kayah State (especially among those influenced by Catholic and Baptist missions) and for Kayah communities increasingly displaced by conflict.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by The Seed Company (seedcompany.com, Arlington, Texas) in partnership with local Manumanaw Karen translation teams.