Mara Cluster

Lake Victoria  is Mara Region's western border. (Tanzania)

The Place

The Mara Region lies in the Northwest of Tanzania, and is the northernmost area of the country. Lake Victoria creates Mara’s western edge, the Kenyan border is the northern boundary, and Serengeti National Park wraps around the southern and eastern sides.

The Need

Around 1.4 million people live in Mara Region, which makes it the most densely populated area of Tanzania with the fewest churches. A wide variety of denominations comprise the churches which are present, and a majority of people call themselves Christians. But without the Word in the heart languages of these people, it is still traditional religion which claims people’s loyalties.

The Cluster

Mara Cluster language work began in 2005 with developing partnership with local churches. The local church leaders responded very positively when they first heard of the plan to do language survey in order to better understand the situation in the region, with the intent of Scripture translation in the future. The survey, which was done in 2005-2006, found that there are at least 14 languages in the Mara Region. Twelve of these languages are of the Bantu language family, and so are similar to one another. The two non-Bantu languages both have at least the New Testament already translated. The survey showed that several of the Bantu languages are very closely related and will likely be able to use one translation, and that another language already has a good New Testament translation.

The Project

Linguistic work was began in earnest in 2006. The Mara Cluster team has worked with Tanzanians from eight languages to develop alphabets and writing systems for their languages. Bible translation begins in 2008 with the Gospel of Luke. Literacy work will be necessary, in order to teach people to read and write their own languages using the newly developed writing systems, and it is hoped that it will begin in 2009. Meanwhile, the cluster team is still busy building partnerships with local churches and doing further research about the sounds and grammar of these eight languages and testing the proposed writing systems.

For more information visit the following pages:

• Learn more about Tanzania
• Learn more about Bantu Language Clusters

Feb 28, 2008 The key that unlocked scripture Written by Alison C. Like having a locked treasure chest with no key, an evangelist from the Kuria language group in Tanzania had scripture in his language for years, but he never knew how to get into it. It turns out the key was easily found, he needed to be shown where to look. Read more...

Dec 10, 2007 "You are just wasting your time!" Written by Alison C. Two older men (mzee in Swahili) from the Ikoma language could not be held back at a the recent word-collection workshop. Their people have been accused as having no god, and of worshiping animals. But these two men had a higher calling than their neighbors could have ever imagined.  Read more...

Dec 10, 2007 "This is very good" Written by Misha S. Tanzanian churches are attended by people from various language groups, and because the Bible is in the national language of Swahili, prayer is always in Swahili. During a recent orthography workshop, when an elderly pastor from the Zanaki language was asked which language he used when he prayed alone, the pastor thought for a moment and answered, "Swahili. I always use Swahili. I don't think I have ever prayed in Zanaki. Yes, I am sure I never have in my whole life."  Read more...

Nov 26, 2007 The Blessing Written by Misha S. It was near the end of an intense workshop. I had been working with a team from the Ikizu language group to develop a writing system for their language. One of the Ikizu men sat down next to me during a break. He informed me, "You will come visit us in our village the last weekend of May. We will be glad to have you come for three days." Read more...

Jun 15, 2007 Imagine! Written by Judy B. Imagine a world where the language that you speak—the language that reaches into your heart and soul, your hopes and dreams, your laughter and your tears—has never been written down. Imagine starting school, only to find that all instruction and teaching materials are in a language that you do not speak or understand.  Read more...