Project Profile

Kru IG Cluster

Languages participating in this cluster:

  • Bete, Gagnoa
  • Bete, Guiberoua
  • Godie
  • We Southern

Emerging from the shadow of their country’s civil war in 2002, many people groups find themselves trying to heal a wounded nation. Many people still feel tense, suspicious and bitter because of losses and violations they experienced during the war. Local people have lost land, churches and literacy centers to disgruntled vigilantes. Disarmament is still in process, so life in the region is still unstable. The church needs a clear expression of the gospel that can be quickly shared throughout the community during this time of reconciliation, healing and forgiveness.

The Kru Cluster project will bring believers together from four related language groups to translate the four Gospels at an accelerated pace. This will bring a clear message of God’s hope to the community quickly and serve as a foundation for broader translation in the region.

Because many poorer people in the region don’t read and because singing is the traditional medium for communicating truth, the translators will put many Scriptures to music. The churches can immediately start using God’s Word as people memorize the songs sung in church.

In addition to being culturally appropriate for these groups, this cluster project is the first of its kind in Côte d’Ivoire. Such a model has potential to transform and revitalize the Bible translation movement throughout the country. If successful, it could be replicated in other language groups and by other churches, which could greatly accelerate the completion of Bible translation throughout Côte d’Ivoire.

News from the Field
  • May11

    Four Kru languages of Cote d'Ivoire

    After a grave civil war in 2002, many people of this nation still feel tense, suspicious and bitter, yet at the same time, yearn for peace and reconciliation. What can bring them to that place? Nothing but the blood of Jesus, as the song goes. In fact, music is a very powerful medium among the Kru people, where literacy is low and people prefer songs and orally told stories.

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  • Mar02

    Kru of Cote d'Ivoire

    In the past thirty years, linguists from around the world translated the New Testament into a handful of the 20 Kru languages spoken in Southwestern Côte d’Ivoire. However, in 2002, civil war erupted, and most expat missionaries left, bringing most translation work to an abrupt halt. Realizing that if the Bible were to finally be translated into their languages they would have to do it themselves, believers from four Kru languages formed a team.

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