shekgalagari bible translation project

Background of the Project
This project started in 2009 when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana partnered with Lutheran Bible Translators to begin translation work into Shekgalagari as part of an effort to reach out into the Kgalagari region. The late Dean Nelson Letlukane was the first chairperson of the advisory committee and a driving force behind the project’s beginning. The Bakgalagari people are spread out across Botswana, but this project worked hard in its beginning stages to unite the different communities where the language is spoken around a common goal of bringing God’s Word to life in their language for the first time. The project hired its first staff member in 2011 and added another translator in 2013.

Where we are
Currently the  New Testament has been printed. The launch of the New Testament is expected to be on the 9th March 2024 in Kang

Plans for this year and future
We are now planning for the celebration and dedication of the New Testament in Kang later this year. We are working to sensitize the Shekgalagari speaking communities to the work that we have done and to the upcoming launch event.

Publications Made

The Gospel of Luke and a Sunday school book of memory verses were published in 2015. An audio recording of Luke and a smartphone Scripture app were also developed in 2018. The complete New Testament will be published in 2024, along with an audio recording and smartphone Scripture app.