The Malagasy Bible’s jubilee: 175 years of holy scriptures

The first Bible was published in Malagasy language on June 21st, 1835. The year 2010 is therefore one year of jubilee. It’s main events will be the opening of a biblical warehouse in Antsohihy and the publication of a Bible dedicated to… military. “It is a version camouflaged version of the Bible “, joked Marc Rakoto, the president of Madagascar’s biblical association. A worshipping session will be, besides, organized in the military chapel of Betongolo, on June 21st.  

 On June 20th, 2010, believers will be celebrating the jubilee in Antsahamanitra, and starting with a worshipping ceremony. The biblical association is planning several demonstrations about the promotion of the holy scriptures. From June 11th to June 21st, an exhibition concerning the history of the Malagasy Bible will be organized in the Palace of Sports and Culture of Mahamasina.  

June 19th will be dedicated to ” biblical tourism “, with series of visits of the Malagasy Bible’s historical sites. In the run of this jubilee, the Malagasy academy welcomes an international symposium addressing the topic ” Bible and mission “. The Malagasy biblical society is equally holding its general assembly in the run of the celebration. Even a stamp will be published for the the jubilee.  

The first Bible in Malagasy language published in 1835 is a Protestant translation, influenced by the English language. It is one of the first ever to have been drafted in indigene language in Africa. Catholics tackled another translation, with a French influence in 1876, and the project reached its end in 1938. The common translation or” dika-teny iombonana” intended to all Malagasy Christians has begun to emerge in 1975. An unifying Bible was officially presented in 2003.  

The Malagasy biblical society is supplying a demand of 90 000 Bibles per year, quite far from the targeted 150 000 units per year. The high illiteracy rate and the relatively high selling price are its mission’s main hindrances. “Our creed is the spread of Christ’s knowledge throughout Madagascar through the holy scriptures, we have to tackle the literacy issue to capitalize it”, preached Marc Rakoto. He regretted that the people’s spending power drop had relegated the purchase of a bible to a secondary rank. 

Real marketing strategies are being applied in order to promote the Bible’s spread. The globalization trend is making a cheaper printing process abroad a privileged option. Specific products dedicated to precise targets as the Bible for soldiers or the Bible for children are appearing. The bible’s presentation related effort is praisworthy. The Malagasy Bible also enters the numeric era, and can be downloaded on a cell phone.