Friday, April 20, 2012

Who has seen Jacob?!



*Disclaimer: the errors in this post were caused by human nature and technology. Blogger needs a mobile app and I need to sleep!

So I decided to attend a midweek service recently, I've been feeling bad about being a Sunday-Sunday Christian but it’s all because my boss won't let me close at 4pm.  So I always end up getting there after the last amen, usually between the announcements and people's retreat to their cars.

I was out of town visiting my family recently and I decided to go to church - their church. Now I've always known the service schedule but I wasn't aware things had changed a little, so off I went and ended up in the 'indigenous service', well that's not exactly the name but the deal was, different services were held simultaneously using the 3 major Nigerian languages – Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba and one pidgin session.

At the entrance the ushers helped me choose the right auditorium; apparently the essence was to teach people to read the bible and pray in their mother tongue. So with my English bible, I settled in, ready to prove to myself my B in the language at WAEC was well earned.

All was going well with my note taking until the preacher asked us to turn to Jacob Chapter 3! I know all the books of the bible off script and there’s definitely no Jacob on the list or so I thought.

I waited for him to correct the slip but he said it again and again; I quickly looked around and when no one was looking worried, peeping into their neighbour's bible or  murmuring, I knew the exact reason why that B wasn't an A grade!

Officially, I was stranded. I quietly recited the bible books to be sure Jacob had not sneaked into the midst of the 66 other books while I wasn’t in church! After almost ripping my bible looking for Isaac’s favourite son, I heard him read what translated to “Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing...” in English. At that point I knew the book of James was where I should have been all the while! *whew*


How couldn't I have known all this that? Anyway, I've decided this would never happen again so I'm taking time out to get friendly with a Yoruba bible. BTW if you know any apps for bibles in Nigerian local dialect, do share. Thanks.

Finally the preacher said we think in our first language / mother tongue and the brain translates into the lingua franca for the mouth to deliver, I found that funny but then it’s probably why you hear things like 'who open the door down?', what's doing you?

Shout out to everyone who is not ashamed of their mother tongue!

Source: http://www.mothertongueblogs.com/


28 comments:

miss.fab said...

We think in our first language and then translate... Omg I thought that was just me! Hahaha. Glad to know I'm not alone.

Last I checked, YouVersion's Bible app had a Yoruba translation that you can download for offline use. The app is available for BlackBerry/iPhone/iPad/Android.

Happy new week!

@ilola said...

Loooll. I can imagine the confusion that was on your face.

Luciano said...

OMG.........the last picture got me laughing real hard
Jacob? if i was in that church i would have said something like "and where is Jacob in d bible?" lol

singlenigerian said...

Hahahahahahahahahhahahahaha... Happy New week :D

Myne said...

So does Jacob translate to james in Yoruba?

P.E.T. Projects said...

Myne, not exactly, the name James exists in yoruba but the chapter is referred to as Jakobu which translates to Jacob.

People have argued that its an error committed by Bishop Ajayi Crowther during translation but since he was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit I doubt it!

I guess we'll never know!

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Blessing said...

Lol, I've always been confused about the book "Jakobu" and never got it until I read this post!!

Thanks girly...lol

Okeoghene said...

I actually got my bible out to confirm that there was is no Jacob in the bible before i finished reading your post.

Busola said...

I suck at yoruba. My father never spoke it regularly to me and i always spoke in an oyinbo accent so i just gave up. But yesterday, I met a first generation Nigerian that will be starting at my college this fall, and I met his dad today. Being the only yoruba person here, his dad's face lit up in joy until i started speaking in my crash americana (I've only been here since august and my accent is legit), the poor man now started trying to form oyinbo with me :(.

Btw, I love your blog. You're the second Nigerian I've discovered :) Following!
tellmewhenyoufindme.blogspot.com

Fluffycutething said...

LOL iwe Jakobu caused you all this plenty trauma LOL

I've gone and bought a Yoruba Bible to read to my "motleys"(translate- sons) during devotion...

We havent started that project i might add **rolls eyes**

Fluffycutething said...

LOL@ Luciano... Your "over sabi ness" would have been cured had you been the one in this story LOL

Unveilinggold said...

LOL @Jacob..for real? lol sorry jare..You can carry a Yoruba Dictionary next tho..lol

LOL @ the pic..LOL I didnt know that about Guinea Pig *covers face*

Molara Brown said...

I find it easier to pray in Yoruba than in English..the preacher is right, we think in the native language first before translating to English.

stelzz said...

Lol. It's strange though that James will be translated to Jacob. Anyway thanks for stopping by to say hi on my blog. Hopefully i'll resume blogging soon

Priscy said...

would have been as lost as you were girl!! interesting though!

Anonymous said...

I didn't realise James was Jakubo.. lol i would have probably walked out wondering what bible they were reading and not wanting to be a part of it! LOL interesting.

*Michael Onobote* said...

Eeya I can imagine. I actually remember hearing 'Iwe Jakobu' several times.

I follow @yorubaproverbs on Twitter and also try communicating once in a while online in your mother tongue with people your comfortable doing that with.

*Michael Onobote* said...

Eeya I can imagine. I actually remember hearing 'Iwe Jakobu' several times.

I follow @yorubaproverbs on Twitter and also try communicating once in a while online in your mother tongue with people your comfortable doing that with.

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Che said...

I was still lost until i read your explanation to Myne. Thanks for that. LOL @ the picture.

dosh said...

Lol, I feel your pain. I'm good with the books in the Bible and i read Tiv very well but whenever i make the mistake of following my mum to church for Tiv service, i spend more wowing at the Tiv names of the books than paying attention to what's going on at the pulpit

Okeoghene said...

Hi P.E.T,

You have been tagged. Please go to my blog for details.

Thank you

P.E.T. Projects said...

Miss Fab, I cant believe I've had the YouVersion bible all this while and never found the Yoruba version. Thanks for the heads up.

@ilola, confusion is an understatement, i thought someone was playing games with me!

Glad it made u smile Luciano

Singlenigerian, and new month too


Blessing, we learn everyday!

P.E.T. Projects said...

Lol Okeoghene, I can imagine!

Busola, thanks. Aww, if you put your mind to it, you'll get better. Thanks for visiting, I hope i can post a lot more often

Unveilinggold, me neither!

'Lara, im learning that too and the expressions are deep although I still get stuck from time to time

Stelzz, its good to have you back.

Priscy, you should have seen me!

o25 said...

Just as only the bible can...see wot Iwe Jakobu ori keta has caused? But seriously, y did u leave d door wide open or lemme translate ajar :p enjoyed the read much much...

Daughter of Her King said...

lool.. cant laugh..

thanks for the info and explanation. Like you, I would have been so lost.

Am sure preaching in yoruab must sound exciting...

I love the post..

made me chuckle...

Daughter of Her King said...

lool.. cant laugh..

thanks for the info and explanation. Like you, I would have been so lost.

Am sure preaching in yoruab must sound exciting...

I love the post..

made me chuckle...