Lelemi 1995 Edition (LEFTBL)

Overview

The Lelemi Bible has a remarkable 94-year translation history spanning from the 1920s to 2014. Translation work was first begun in the 1920s by Reverend Father A. O. Dogli, described as West Africa's first Catholic priest and a pioneer in education among the communities of the mountainous Volta Region of Ghana [1][2]. Father Dogli's translation work was rejected, however, and his writings were burned [1]. The project was revived in the early 1980s when Dr. Andy Ring began serving as the main translator, with trial translation starting in 1983; he was assisted by Benard Ofori and Kwame Olawu (both now deceased), Divine Mununkum, and Diko [1]. The New Testament was first dedicated in 1996 at Bodada-Buem, and Old Testament translation commenced in 1998 [1]. The complete Lelemi Bible was launched in Accra in 2014 by Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT), who said at the ceremony, "I am very happy that the Lelemi Bible is being dedicated in honour of Father Dogli" [1]. A dedication ceremony was held on 22 November 2014 in Baglo-Buem in the Volta Region [1][3].

Language and People

Lelemi (ISO 639-3: lef) is spoken by approximately 72,000 people in Ghana. [Glottolog: lele1264]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. Translation type: First.

References