The Bible Society of Sierra Leone (BSSL), with support from the American Bible Society and the Seed Company, hosted a Sherbro Scripture Engagement Workshop on 21st March, 2025, aimed at translating the New Testament into Sherbro language and enhancing biblical literacy within the Sherbro community.

Held at BSSL’s headquarters, the workshop sought to strengthen the connection between the Sherbro people and their heart language, focusing on key objectives such as increasing biblical literacy, teaching interpretation methods, and fostering small group discussions.

Mr. Edwin Frazer, General Secretary of BSSL, emphasized the importance of financial support for the ongoing translation of the New Testament from English to Sherbro. He noted that similar translation efforts are underway in countries like China, Germany, and Nigeria, where local languages are receiving support from community funding.

Reportedly, the initiative to translate the New Testament began in 2011, with active work commenced in May 2017, anticipated to conclude by December 2026.

Related News

Frazer highlighted the wide array of beneficiaries of the translation, including educators, pastors, church councils, and various denominations across Sierra Leone. He also called for the donation of cultural materials such as songs, poems, and stories in Sherbro to enrich the translation process.

He admitted, “when completed, evangelists would use the translated New Testament Bible to win souls for Jesus Christ…” Frazer reassured that qualified professionals would be involved in the project, which aims not only to preserve the Sherbro language and culture but also to promote love and unity within the community.

Frazer publicly asserted that currently, translations are in progress for five languages in Sierra Leone, which are Sherbro, Temne, Kono, Limba, and Mende. Also, he mentioned the success of past translation efforts, citing the completed Kono Bible as a source of inspiration, where all copies were sold upon release.

BSSL staff members, Mr. Omega Sheriff and Mr. Raymond Jarrett, along with translators Mr. Rowland Stevens and Mr. John Yombo, reinforced the workshop’s significance in moving the project forward. They stressed the necessity for the Sherbro people to engage with their language in worship, as they said it fosters a deeper connection to their faith and culture.

To further facilitate the project’s success, a Translation Committee was proposed to ensure community involvement and ownership. Plans to establish Sherbro Literacy Centers across the nation were also revealed, with a strong emphasis on the need for donor support amidst challenges of donor fatigue.

The workshop concluded with a tribute to late pioneers Rev. Moses Kogba and Mr. Albert Yanker, whose efforts laid the groundwork for proposed vital initiative.

BSSL’s mission has proven to be focused on making the message of the Bible accessible to all Sierra Leoneans, encouraging them to engage with the scriptures in their own languages. The event ended with an enticing question and answer session, reflecting the community’s eagerness to support the pivotal endeavor.