Kayapó New Testament (TXUTBL)

Overview

The Kayapó New Testament, titled Metĩndjwỳnh Kute Memã Kabẽn Ny Jarẽnh, is the first New Testament translation in the Mẽbêngôkre (Kayapó) language, published in 1996 by Wycliffe Bible Translators. [1] Translation work on the Kayapó scriptures began in 1959, with SIL International missionaries conducting early grammatical work on the language. [2] The completed New Testament was dedicated in 1997 in São Félix do Xingu, Pará, Brazil. [2] The Kayapó, who call themselves Mẽbêngôkre ("People of the Water Hole"), are one of the most prominent indigenous groups of the Brazilian Amazon, internationally known for their environmental activism led by Chief Raoni. [3]

Language and People

Kayapó (ISO 639-3: txu) is spoken by approximately 7,270 people in Eastern Central Brazil. [Glottolog: kaya1330] Mẽbêngôkre is a Northern Jê language of the Macro-Jê family, spoken by both the Kayapó and Xikrin peoples across the states of Pará and Mato Grosso. [3] An estimated 12,000 Kayapó live in approximately 50 villages across more than 9 million hectares of federally demarcated Indigenous lands, making them stewards of the world's largest Indigenous-managed tropical forest. [4] Work toward a complete Bible translation, led by Indigenous leader Silvério Orewawe, has been underway with Old Testament translation in progress. [5]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by LBB, Niteroi, RJ. Translation type: First.

References