Guro language
Guro, also called Gouro, Kweni and Kwéndré, is a language of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), in the valley regions of the Bandama River.
Translation History
Bible translation into the Guro (Gouro) language of Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) was started by L. Frances and S.J. Staniford of the Wordwide Evangelization Crusade, and later joined by Grace Reider.
The first scriptures to be translated into Gouro, consisted of a set of six leaflets with illustrated covers, numbered Gouro 1-6, containing various verses mainly from the New Testament. These were translated by L. Frances and S.J. Staniford of the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade, assisted by Gohi bi Bolu, and published by Scripture Gift Mission (SGM).
The first book of the Bible in Gouro was the Gospel of Mark. It was translated by L. Frances Staniford of the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade, Levi and Jean Bolo. It was published by Société Biblique Britannique et Étrangère (British and Foreign Bible Society) in 1951.
New Testament
In 1960 the first New Testament in Gouro was completed. It was reproduced from IBM typescript. It was translated by L. Frances Staniford and Grace Reider of the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade.
In 1961 the Gospel of Luke was produced as a tentative edition in a modified French orthography. It was translated by L. Frances Staniford of the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade.
New Testament Revision
In 1968 a revision was made of the first New Testament in Gouro by the original translators and a committee. With notes (in French) on pronunciation, chapter and section headings, inter-Gospel references, illustrations. It was translated by L. Frances Staniford and Grace Reider.
Bible
In 1979 the full Bible was completed. The first Bible in Gouro included some notes in French on pronunciation, with short introductions to each book, chapter and section headings and cross-references based on those in the Louis Segond. It was translated by L. Frances Staniford and Grace Reider of the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade. The Bible Guro was entitled "Kazambale lé Sebe Sauunu" (La Sainte Bible en Gouro). It was published by La Société Biblique en Afrique Occidentale in 1979.
Digital Edition
The Guro (Gouro) Bible was digitised with the help of MissionAssist for Alliance Biblique de Cote d'Ivoire (Bible Society of the Ivory Coast) in 2023.
