What's Inside?

Swahili, or Kiswahili, is an African language spoken in eastern Africa, especially in Tanzania and Kenya, where it acts as a lingua franca. The first translation of parts of the Scriptures into Swahili was accomplished by 1868, with a complete New Testament translation following in 1879 and a translation of the whole Bible (Biblia) in 1890. The Maandiko Matakatifu (Union Bible or SUV) was first published in 1952 and combines the Mombasa and Zanzibar dialects, and the Revised Union Version (SRUV) produced in 2006. The Kwa Watu Wote Congo version was produced in 2002. The Swahili Common Language Bible was produced in 1977, and the Biblia Habari Njema (Good News) is a modern translation first published in 1996. Bible work is done by the Bible Society of Tanzania. Swahili Bibles are printed in editions, with or without deuterocanonical books.