|
Report from Namibia and Botswana
The people on the photo below are mostly speakers of the Ju/'hoansi language: Field partner and recordist Tsidiso Moletsano writes:
"In the photo you see a group of ministers in Gobabis (Namibia), listening to Mark 2:1-12 on the internet for the first time. After listening to it they asked if is it possible to download it on their phones, God is good."
And after listening Tsidiso could say, "Yes: You may download and share this content freely via your phones with others."
At the venue seen below, in Ukhwi, Botswana, another exciting batch of recordings were made during the past year. The language: ǃXóõ, a language notable for its large number of phonemes, perhaps the largest in the world. Most speakers live in Botswana.
 
On the right you see one tired field recordist, David Long (left in the picture). This photo was taken November 2018, at him and wife Jinny's farewell, shortly after they finished recording the San Partnership Oral Scriptures Set in ǃXóõ and The Gospel of Luke.
The Scripture Set consists of 62 Scripture passages (mostly narratives) from Genesis to Revelation, giving a very simple outline of THE STORY into which the events of Luke fit.
David writes about the recording experience and what kept him going:
"By last year October's end all of Luke had been checked and final recordings made on our very fine equipment, and we could say, 'this is the Word of God in !Xoon'.
"When !Xoon speakers would come into our yard, particularly elders, I’d invite them into the office to 'check the quality' of our work. I would play Luke 15 and the 'story from life' (parable) of the Prodigal Son. The reaction was always the same:The listener would first react to the novelty of hearing any high quality prepared audio presentation in their own tongue.
"Then he or she would settle down quietly to listen. Soon the person was caught by the story, and began to give all the proper responses at the right time: surprise, indignation, laughter.
When it was done there would be silence and then they would look at me with joy and satisfaction.
"I can hardly wait to relive this experience, and I am planning to do so."
Here in Cape Town, after receiving all the content, it took me roughly 2 months to content-edit and then process all the content.
I also processed and uploaded Christian songs and choruses produced during a 2016 Christian Music Workshop already.
I uploaded the last batch of recordings after midnight on Christmas Eve with joy in my heart. This is my Christmas present to the ǃXóõ in Botswana.
It then took another month or so for our International studio to get everything up and "alive" for download on our website and 5fish.mobi app.
Clones of the masters were also sent to Megavoice. They've been preparing the audio for upload on the first mp3 players to be sent to Ukwi later this year when David indeed goes back there for another visit.
At the end I come to one conclusion:
Investing in people is always worth the while.
|
