Dedication

I missed the dedication of the Bible in Cerma last spring, but fortunately the dedication of the recently translated New Testament in the Fulfulde language was delayed, and I was able to attend.  It was held at the SIM center, the Société Internationale Missionaire in Gambela, Burkina, just northeast of Ouagadougou.

The Fulani are a nomadic people that are scattered throughout Burkina Faso, in neighboring West African countries, and according to SIL, some seventeen African countries from Senegal to Sudan have Fulfulde-related language speakers.  Apparently in Burkina, the New Testament had been translated into one local dialect of the language some years  ago, but this newer translation makes it accessible to a larger number of Fulfulde speakers, particularly within Burkina Faso itself.

All the local dignitaries were there, or their representatives:  the various Bible translators and societies, the mayor, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and Literacy, the head of the linguistics department of Ouagadougou... There were even some Fulfulde speakers from Benin, Mali, and Togo, and many from the European community which had been involved locally in translation work in one way or another.  And the ceremony, which started at 9 a.m. (actually 9:30 a.m. "African time") lasted until nearly noon, culminating with a lunch of riz gras ("fat rice") which was rice with eggplant, tomatoes, and cabbage served with some sort of crispy mystery meat, possibly beef or lamb.  Very tasty, indeed.  There was also a refreshing and fragrant hibiscus flavored drink that came in a clear balloon-like sack, drunk by puncturing a small hole in the upper corner.  Mine managed to spring a leak in the middle, making it a challenge to drink...

Ceremony of the New Testaments being brought in as "spiritual food"

                     

Children reading from the New Testament in Fulfulde

New Testaments in Fulfulde for sale

The two women I am sharing an apartment with, Rebecca and Kim in
 outfits made for them out of the special fabric





       

 As you can see from the pictures, a special fabric was printed in either a blue or an orange background for the occasion, and some people bought it ahead of time and had garments made to commemorate the dedication ceremony. In Africa, fabric is frequently commissioned for special events or holidays, and this one was no exception.  There were also nice-looking white golf-type shirts for sale embellished with the design, with contrasting collars in various colors.

The SIL library copy of the Fulfulde New Testament

I also noticed that they had a library at the SIM center, which I will have to investigate...