Translating כֹּהֵן into Okun Mother-Tongue of Nigeria: A Proposal

Abstract

The subject of “priesthood” is not limited to the biblical priesthood as it is evident in the historical accounts of nations, beginning from the Ancient Near East (ANE) to Africa and other parts of the world. Yet, the Hebrew term כֹּהֵן (“priest”) is one of the key biblical terms that pose serious translation challenges to most African translators. The problem has to do with whether or not to render it using the local term for traditional priests. Many translators do not use the local term for “traditional priest” to render “priest of God” because of the fear that such rendering might associate biblical priesthood with idolatry. The Okun community of Nigeria has two options; namely, Aworo (Okun word for traditional priest) or Alufa (Yoruba word for “pastor”). The question of which word to use in the ongoing Okun Bible Translation Project has generated controversies not only among the team of translators but also among religious leaders of the entire Okun community. This research was, therefore, conducted to explore what implications each of the options has and to propose a solution to the problem. A careful analysis of responses from one hundred and fifty (150) selected interviewees revealed that most Okun people consider Aworo as the most appropriate word for כֹּהֵן. However, the fetish connotation of Aworo has the potential of hindering its acceptance among the masses. The paper proposed the use of the compound expression Aworo-Ọlọrun (“priest of God”) to distinguish it from the priest of the idols. The proposed rendering is both socio-religiously appropriate and theologically sound. The use of Aworo-Ọlọrun stands the chance of not only enhancing the Okun mother-tongue theologizing but also facilitating the decolonization of Christianity for the Okun community.