Zinza

Zinza lady. (Tanzania)

The Zinza people live on the remote south-western shores and islands of Lake Victoria in north-west Tanzania. Many are fishermen, working at night and tending towards a semi-nomadic lifestyle. The remainder are agriculturalists growing a variety of crops such as millet, beans, plantains, and a wide range of tropical fruits. They also raise cattle, sheep, and goats.

Although Swahili is used as the main language of communication between the different people groups, the Zinza are proud of their mother tongue and interested in learning to read and write in Echizinza (the language of the Zinza people).

Please visit the following pages for more information:

1. About the Zinza - General information about the Zinza people.
2. Zinza Language Project - Meet the Zinza translation team.
3. Pray - Support the Zinza people through prayer.
4. History - A bit of the history of the Zinza people.
5. Tanzania Info - Country information.

Feb 25, 2010 Zinza! Start at the beginning Written by Chris G. In a world that often assumes that everyone has access to the Bible, the Zinza people of Tanzania have only just begun. They recently received and dedicated Echitabu cho Kubanza "The Book of the Beginning," or the book of Genesis.  And they celebrated!  Read more...

Oct 13, 2006 So Sweet Written by Anna B. One day, Tim and Chris were listening to a tape of some recordings they had done of the translated Scriptures in Zinza. Afterwards their guard, who'd been listening from outside, came and asked, "Who is this excellent preacher? His words were so tamu," - so sweet! "It's the best sermon I've ever heard!" Tim and Chris explained it was the words of the apostle Paul that he'd been listening to. God's Word is so sweet! Psalm 119:103 says, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Mar 16, 2006 Zinza Calendar Written by Chris G Find out why having a calendar is a noteworthy privilege. The 2005 calendar, one of the first publications in the Zinza language was printed last year in efforts to promote literacy. Read more...

Mar 2, 2006 Reading Glasses Written by Chris G Bible translation and literacy is effective because it allows people to read God's word with their own eyes. But just like many of us, some of the Zinza struggle with poor eyesight. Find out what a difference it makes to see clearly. Read more...

Mar 1, 2006 Lots to Learn Written by Chris G When you move in to a village there's more to learn than just the language. We discovered how to host drop-in guests, run a generator, replace a grass roof, speak in Swahili, carve pork, drive on adventurous roads, live with ants and swarms of lake flies, buy food at the local market...it can be overwhelming!