Burunge

The Burunge people are a small group of approximately 13,000 people who live in close proximity to other languages such as the Rangi, Gogo and Sandawe. The Burunge belong to a small cluster of ethnic groups in Tanzania known as the Southern Cushites. The people are proud of their language and are excited about the prospect of being able to read it and having the Scriptures. Some are already learning to read Burunge and there are already some literacy materials and Scriptures pending publication. Although the work is time-consuming and challenging, the team is thrilled about the progress they are making.

Visit the following pages for more information:

1. About the Burunge -General information about the Burunge people.
2. Burunge Language Project - Find out what is happening in translation.
3. Pray - Support the Burunge people through prayer.
4. Tanzania info - General information about Tanzania.

Jul 5, 2007 The Relevance of Ruth Written by Anna B. More than 40 Burunge pastors had been invited to a workshop in Mirambo, Tanzania, to help write a Bible study for the books of Ruth and Jonah in their own Burunge language. When the leaders of the workshop arrived they found that none of the pastors from outside of Mirambo had arrived. In fact, only the host pastor was there. This scene turned from one of excitement to wondering what would be done with all the food that purchased for the workshop. Read more...

Jul 3, 2007 Special delivery Written by Alison C. At 4:30 PM, we heard a plane overhead coming in for landing. My colleague called the Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) office and excitedly asked, "Is that the shuttle flight coming in from Nairobi?"  The answer must have been yes because I heard squeals of joy all the way down in my office.             Read more...

Oct 18, 2006 Literacy is Unlocking the Code Written by Anna B. I was encouraged by a small group of girls, who after a limited amount of tuition from me on the Burunge letters of the alphabet were able to read aloud to me from their newly dedicated copies of Jonah! Read more...

Apr 5, 2006 Catching the Vision Written by Anna B. When Pastor Emmanuel D. was first asked to work as a translator he couldn’t understand why there was a need for the Bible in his language. People had Swahili Bibles! Some time later he was doing some preaching, giving sermons in the Burunge language. After some weeks he reverted back to Swahili. The people came to him and questioned him, “Why did you preach to us in our mother tongue if you were going to go back and switch to Swahili in words we can’t always understand? It was better when we were heard you speak in our mother tongue.”

Jan 16, 2006 The First Book in Burunge! Written by Anna L Why is the dedication of a small Biblical book in Burunge such a cause for celebration? Is it because there they finally get to hear about God's redemptive plan for them? Or is it because the Burunge people connect very closely to the customs that are described in this short Old Testament book? Read more...