Printing of the first ever Yao Bible is underway in China after a 15-year translation project, the Bible Society of Malawi (BSM) has confirmed.
Speaking in an interview with Nation on Sunday on Thursday, BSM director of programmes Kamwana Muyaya said 5 000 copies will be printed in the initial project.
Muyaya also disclosed that the Yao Bible project is running concurrently with the printing of the Lhomwe Bible.
“As for the Lhomwe Bible, we have started with the New Testament only because translation of the Old Testament is still underway at Luchenza in Thyolo,” he said.
He said BSM wants to ensure that every language spoken in the country has its Bible.
“So far, only five languages have their Bible. These are Chichewa, Tumbuka, Tonga, Ngonde and Sena. This means Yao will be the sixth and Lhomwe the seventh,” said Muyaya.
The cost for printing the Yao Bible is projected at K7.5 million.
BSM is organising a number of activities to raise the money.
But Muyaya could not disclose the cost of the Lhomwe Bible, saying the translation project is still running.
He appealed for support to ensure the projects materialise.
“The projects are very significant because they will give the Yaos and Lhomwes an opportunity to study the word of God in their own languages,” he said.
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