New French Edition of Africa Bible Commentary Launched
Part of the editorial team for the Commentaire Biblique Contemporain (left to right): Tewoldemedhin Habtu, Samuel Ngewa, Issiaka Coulibaly, Solomon Andria, Yusufu Turaki
It was a historic moment when the launch of the French edition of the Africa Bible Commentary — the Commentaire Biblique Contemporain — took place on November 19, 2008, at the prestigious Palace of Culture in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Langham Literature helped to support the project and was present to honor the hard work and dedication devoted to making it happen.
The president of Côte d’Ivoire honoured the invitation to attend the launch, sending the minister of Home Affairs as his official representative. The minister of Culture and the minister of Communication were also present, as was a representative of the mayor of Taeichville, Abidjan.
An attendant clutches her copy of the Commentaire Biblique Contemporain.
Yusufu Turaki, representing General Editor Tokunboh Adeyemo who, due to illness, was not able
to be present, and Solomon Andria, the French editor, joined nearly a thousand others who have been eagerly awaiting the launch of this one-volume commentary on the Bible in French. The original work was written by both French-speaking and English-speaking African scholars, with those portions originating in French translated into English. Over 50,000 copies of the ABC have been distributed since its launch in July 2006. The two years since then have been spent translating the English portions into French,
The Minister of Home Affairs, Cote D'Ivoire, receives a copy of the CBC from Solomon Andria, French editor.
much of the burden of the editorial activity falling on the shoulders of Solomon, who is much to be applauded for his excellent work. Further translations are already underway in Swahili and Portuguese as well as for Hausa and possibly Amheric. Serving In Missions and Langham Literature have supported this project for seven years and are delighted with the results.
The five hundred copies of the CBC available at the launch were very quickly sold out, with those who purchased them obviously very pleased to have one in hand.
Visit the LPI photo gallery for a slideshow of the event.