The Rewe people live on the coastal plains of the Indian Ocean. Legend says the Rewe descended from the neighboring Lughulu people. Oral tradition reveals that the Rewe people went to the coast as porters, then married and stayed in that area. Their name comes from a word meaning “to marry.” Most families cultivate large gardens or raise cash crops to provide for their families.

These people value peace at almost all costs, a standard which comes with severe consequences. People look for scapegoats when unexpected trauma interrupts community life. For example, someone will usually receive blame and experience a beating, even for a natural disaster.

About 17 percent of Rewe speakers affiliate with Christianity, but most still fear witchcraft and engage in many kinds of animistic rituals. Many assume they inherited their religious affiliation from their grandparents. Because they don’t have a Bible they understand, many Christians are unclear about what they believe.

This project is producing the New Testament and Old Testament portions in a series of small books before it is published as a single volume, making Scripture available almost immediately. As people understand Scripture’s teachings, it will change their thinking as individuals and potentially impact the entire culture.