Due to the work and presence of Christian missionaries in Yawo areas since the late 1800s, Christian literature is the most widely available printed material in the Ciyawo language. WorldScriptures.org keeps track of publication dates and details and reports that Bible portions were first published in 1880, with a New Testament completed in 1898 and a complete Bible in 1920. That doesn’t mean, however, that it is possible to get your hands on a Bible in Ciyawo today, though portions can be found through SIM contacts and the Malawi Bible Society (this partnership is nearing completion of a new translation, while New Hope Publishing/Chembecheyo cha Sambano has a concurrent translation project in process.)

The Bible Society of Malawi/SIM offers the following titles for sale:

• Jwakulochesya Adamu
• Jwakulochesya Nowa
• Jwakulochesya Abulahamu
• Jwakulochesya Yusufu
• Jwakulochesya Musa
• Kutama Mchembecheyo (HIV/AIDS booklet)
• Malangano Ga Sambano (1992)
• Ndandililo ni Kutyoka
• Kwenda ni Yesu (books 1-6)

SIM in Lichinga, Mozambique offers the following available for download (600KB): Ya caatiite kudiinganigwa cilaambo

M. Barr has translated the following Bible materials into Ciyawo:

• Buku 1: Kum’manyilila Mlungu pandanda pene [Ndandililo, Yobu]
• Buku 2: Kwenda ni Mlungu mchipululu [Kutyoka, Buku ja wakutaga mbopesi, Kuwalanga, Kuwilisya Malamusi]
• Buku 3: Kutama ni Mlungu mchilambo chepelechele chilanga [Yoswa, wakulamula, Lute, 1 ni 2 Samuyele, 1 ni 2 Achayimwene, 1 ni 2 Mbili, Obadya, Yowele, Amosi Hoseya, Yona, Yesaya, Mika, Nahumu, Safanya, Habakuku
• Buku 4: kumlambila Mlungu mchiswejelo [Malumbo, Misyungu, Jwakulalichila, Nyimbo ja Solomoni]
• Buku 5: Kukulupilila Mlungu mu yisawusyo [Yelemiya, Malilo, Daniyele, Esekiyele]
• Buku 6: Kutamilisigwa ni Mlungu m’malangano gakwe [Esala, Nehemiya, Hagayi, Sakaliya, Esitele, Malaki]
• Buku 7: Kum’wona Mlungu jwakutama pachilikati petu [Mateyu, Maliko, Luka, Yohane]
• Buku 8: Kukamula masengo mu mpingo pampepe ni Mlungu [Masengo ga Wakutumichila, 1 ni 2 Akolinto, Agalatiya, Aefeso, Afilipi, Akolose, 1 ni2 Atesalonika, 1 ni2 Atimoteyo, Tito, Filimoni]
• Buku 9: Kukula mchimanyisyo cha Mlungu [Aloma, Ahebeli, Yakobo, 1 ni2 Petulo, 1,2 ni 3 Yohane, Yuda]
• Buku 10: Kwembechela Mlungu nu uchimbichimbi wakwe [Chiwunukuko]
• Jwamkongwe jwakumnonyelesya Mlungu
• Kukula Mchiswejelo
• Ndandililo ja umi wa Chikilisitu
• Liwasa lyambone

Kachere Press offers the following for sale through bookstores that carry Kachere materials:

WANGA KWAKULUPICHIKA  -  ANSWERS TO LIVE BY by Edwin D. Roels / ISBN 99908-76-68-1, Mvunguti Book, 72 pp., 2006

British and Foreign Bible Society, 1933 Genesis ne Exodus

Majiganyo ga Bayibulo [2 books with pictures, 92 chronological Bible lessons for children] (H. Steiner)

Nyimbo sya Chiyawo (compiled by H. Steiner)

Safari Books - Mwanache jwa Kwinjilila — Ulombela ja ku Kana (by African pastors fellowship, Birkley, Coventry UK)

Translations from “Youth Aflame: Manual for Discipleship” by Winkie Pratney

• Chida cha Wakulijiganya [link]
• Yohane [link]
• Petulo [link]
• Filipo [link]
• Tomasi [link]

Translations from “Shepherd’s Staff”, edited by Ralph Mahoney

• Section A2 [link]
• Section A3 [link]
• Section A4 [link]

Yijiganyo 1, 2, 3 (From Chembecheyo cha Sambano/New Hope Publishing)

Audio Materials

Audio materials have recently become more accessible through the work of Faith Comes by Hearing (made available through audio Bibles called “The Proclaimer”, sporadically available from Bible Society of Malawi offices in Blantyre and Lilongwe; download the New Testament in Ciyawo here).

The Proclaimer is truly a 21st century way to hear the Word of God! Produced by Faith Comes By Hearing, The Proclaimer uses an installed microchip that contains the entire New Testament of the Bible in Ciyawo!

The chip will not erase or wear out from frequent playing. In using The Proclaimer, the battery that comes with this radio-like device will play for 15 hours and can be recharged enough times to play the entire New Testament more than 1,000 times. It uses a built-in generator and solar panel to charge the battery. The solar panel, in addition to charging the battery, will run The Proclaimer even without battery power as long as there is sunlight. The sound is digital quality and loud enough to be heard clearly by groups as large as 300.

In September of 2008, the Ciyawo version of this audio player was officially launched in Mangochi boma. Other reports from Malawi (perhaps regarding the Chichewa version) are coming in.

According to a spokesman at the Bible Society of Malawi, these Proclaimers are available to listening clubs in Malawi: small groups of people who agree to gather together each week to listen to portions from the Word of God via The Proclaimer. When they finish the New Testament, they are elegible to receive a certificate. A minimal charge of about 1000 to 1500 Malawian Kwacha would be paid per copy. It is best to work through your church in requesting copies.

For missionaries and other groups who do not work through church groups, it is possible to request copies for small groups you work with. To do so, provide details about your groups (including names, location, etc.) to the Bible Society in the form of a request for The Proclaimer.

Available from Gospel Recordings (Wordless Booklets accompany audio recordings — The Living Christ Pic. 1-45, 46-78, 79-120) (see website)

• Beginning with GOD
• Mighty Men of God
• Victory through God
• Servants of GOD
• On Trial for GOD
• JESUS – Teacher & Healer
• JESUS – Lord & Saviour
• Acts of the HOLY SPIRIT
• Songs I
• Songs II
• Words of Life
• Words of Life for Children

Radio programs include:

• “Words of Wisdom” series
• “Come and Listen” series
• “It’s Your Life” series
• Family-related series
• Heritage-related series
• Scripture-related series
• Youth-related series

Christian bands and choirs who sing in Ciyawo:

• Makawa Quartet
• Kamwendo Choir
• Malindi Choir

Video Resources

Numerous Christian film materials have been translated into Ciyawo with varying degrees of professionalism. Below, I will attempt to list what I know of as well as mention the quality (as judged by myself as a westerner, a far cry from what would be acceptable perhaps by others’ standards).

• The Jesus Film | professional quality | available through sale through select private market vendors in Malawi & Mozambique. (Not available through the producer at this point.) [watch online in Ciyawo]
• God’s Story | professional quality | an 80-minute presentation about the Bible from creation to eternity covering the main stories of the Bible. [watch online in English or Portuguese]
• The Hope | semi-professional quality, awaiting translation checking for final approval| a groundbreaking film incorporating a number of high-quality film productions over the years that deal with epic biblical stories; a chronological approach to teaching the Bible produced by Mars Hill out of Texas, USA but translated locally in Malawi. [watch online in English]
• The Story of Mohammed | semi-professional quality | originally produced in a Nigerian dialect with English subtitles, this 45-minute dramatic story shows us a Nigerian Muslim who began to have dreams and visions of a spiritual teacher dressed in white. His quest to understand this person led him to become a follower of Jesus. That choice caused his family to disown him and Muhamed found himself at a very difficult place in life. Translated in Malawi. [For more information, see MoreThanDreams.org]
• The Story of Khalil | semi-professional quality | A radical Egyptian terrorist changed from a murderous “Saul” to a forgiving “Paul” after Jesus Christ visited him in a soul-penetrating dream. This hater of both Christians and Jews set out to discredit the Bible, but instead, he was transformed when Jesus appeared to him and changed his heart. Translated in Malawi. [For more information, see MoreThanDreams.org]
• Moses | semi-professional quality | a Turner Entertainment production about the life of Moses which was translated for private discipleship use.
• The King is Born | semi-professional quality | an “Animated Bible Stories Production” from the Family Entertainment Network which was translated for private discipleship use.
• The Passion of Christ | semi-professional quality | Translated for private discipleship use.
• Words of Life