Origin Of The Oromo NT (1893) In Marburg

The “Museum of Religions” at Marburg University

The Oromo NT (1893) published on this website bears the stamp of the Religionskundliche Sammlung [“Museum of Religions“] at Marburg University. The Museum was founded by Prof. Rudolf Otto in 1927.

Prof. Ernst Dammann as the likely donor of the Oromo New Testament in the Marburg Library

Among the museum’s directors, Prof. Ernst Dammann was the only Africanist. During his career, he taught Oromo on several occasions and also wrote extensively about the translation of the Bible into African languages. There is strong evidence that the 1893 Oromo New Testament entered the museum’s library during Dammann’s time as a professor in Marburg (i.e., between 1962 and his retirement in 1972).

Bauerochse finds the rare Oromo NTs in Addis Ababa

Quote from Bauerochse, In Dienst genommen, p. 44-45

(1) English translation

“In addition to my practical work, I made sure not to neglect learning the Oromo language (Oromiffa) [in Aira around 1955]. I had a head start over the other staff members because I had been able to study Oromiffa and Amharic for two semesters at the University of Hamburg [in 1950/51] [see above, p. 32]. Now I not only had to continue learning myself, but also teach others. This also benefited my own language studies. I began reading the Bible with a student from the mission school and the local pastor, Taasisaa Duureessaa. For me, it was the best textbook for the Oromo language. I had already read it with my teacher, Professor Ernst Dammann, at the African Studies Department of the University of Hamburg.

Apart from the Bible [1899], the hymnbook [2nd ed. 1935], and the catechism [1899], there was only one small primer in the Oromo language [1894], compiled by the Bible translator Onesimos [p. 45] Nesib. Since we had only a single copy at the station, I had a student make a copy. I also had the hymnbooks copied out. They could no longer be purchased. The Ethiopian government had banned their printing.

In Addis Ababa, I found a box—partially eaten away by termites—containing New Testaments from Onesimos’s first translation, dated 1893, at the home of a Swedish missionary. It was a valuable find for me. Although termites partially damaged the books, they were eagerly purchased by local Christians, especially lay preachers. After all, they had nothing else.” [Emphasis and paragraph breaks added]

The Swedish missionary in question was most likely Rev. Torsten Persson. He was responsible for handling the printing and distribution of literature for the SEM from 1953 until 1959. [During his furlough in Sweden in 1955/56, Rev. Gustav Arén seems to have been in charge.] In 1960, the task was given to Yemisrach Dimts Communication Services (email from Rev. Paul Persson, dated 2026.06.20).

(2) German text

“Neben den praktischen Arbeiten durfte ich [ca. 1955 in Aira] das Erlernen der Oromosprache (Oromiffa) nicht vergessen. Ich hatte den übrigen Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeitern voraus, dass ich [1950/51] an der Universität Hamburg zwei Semester Oromiffa und Amharisch hatte studieren können [see above p. 32].

Nun musste ich nicht nur selber weiter lernen, sondern auch andere unterrichten. Das kam auch meinem eigenen Sprachstudium zugute. Mit einem Schüler der Missionsschule und dem einheimischen Pastor Taasisaa Duureessaa begann ich, in der Bibel zu lesen. Für mich war es das beste Lehrbuch der Oromosprache. Schon auf dem Afrikanischen Seminar der Universtität Hamburg hatte ich mit meinem Lehrer Professor Ernst Dammann darin gelesen.

Außer der Bibel, dem Gesangbuch und dem Katechismus gab es in der Oromosprache nur ein kleines Lesebuch, das der Bibelübersetzer Oneesimos [p. 45] Nesib angefertigt hatte. Da wir auf der Station nur ein einziges Exemplar hatten, ließ ich es von einem Schüler abschreiben. Auch Gesangbücher ließ ich abschreiben. Man konnte sie nicht mehr kaufen. Die äthiopische Regierung hatte ihren Druck verboten.

In Addis Abeba fand ich bei einem schwedischen Missionar eine teilweise von Termiten zerfressene Kiste mit Neuen Testamenten der ersten Übersetzung von Oneesimos aus dem Jahre 1893. Es war für mich ein wertvoller Fund. Obwohl die Bücher teilweise von Termiten angefressen waren, wurde sie von den einhimischen Christen, vor allem von den Laienpredigern, gern gekauft. Sie hatte ja sonst nichts.” [Paragraph breaks added]

Rev. Torsten Persson sent about 14 boxes with Oromo and Amharic literature from Asmara to Addis Ababa in 1953

Quote from Grenstedt, Longstanding Relations, p. 129:

[T]he Swedish missionaries lacked literature in the 1950s, especially in Oromiffa, and this was discussed at the missionary conferences. Rev. Torsten Persson, who was assigned to work with literature by the SEM, in 1953 arranged the sending of boxes with Bibles and literature in both Amharic and Oromiffa from the SEM stock in Asmara to Addis Ababa. He managed to send approximately 14 boxes, weighing more than 1000 kg, by lorry in two sendings. The boxes passed the customs and reached its goal in Addis Ababa. The Oromo literature was not detected by the customs, which Rev. Torsten experienced as almost a miracle. The boxes had been well prepared and packed with both Amharic and Oromo literature. The latter was probably not placed at the upper part of the boxes.

[Footnote no. 232:] Minutes of missionary conference Nov. 19-22, 1952, § 11; “summary” § 11; Nov.10-16, 1953, § 6 D; appendix I, no. II, D, p. 10. Torsten Persson’s diary June 1953; July 1953, PP-A [Paul Persson Archive]; Budbäraren 1953, p. 471. Dr. Nils-Olof Hylander later on questioned why material in Oromiffa was not printed and why plans of a printing press and distribution center in Nakamte failed. Nils-Olof Hylander, mail, Sept. 14, 2015. [Emphasis added]

Rev. Dafaa Jammoo in Germany in July 1952

Quote from Meyer-Bahlburg & Wolff, Afrikanische Sprachen in Forschung und Lehre, p. 92:

English translation

“Pastor Daffa Djammo (Oromo): He was staying at the Hermannsburg Missionary Institute at the time and made himself available in July 1952 for experimental phonetic recordings and linguistic information.”

According to B. Plutat (2026.06), head of the library at the Institute of Asian and African Studies, there is a box of audio recordings labeled “Africa” in her office. The language of the recording is not noted on many of the magnetic tapes. The only identified Oromo tapes come from the Catholic clergyman Tito Lepisa (Ph.D.) and were recorded in 1966.
The tape(s) featuring Rev. Dafaa Jammoo seem to have been lost. The audio recordings featuring Rev. Dafaa were presumably lost when the Phonetic Institute closed in 2006, and not all of the recordings were transferred to the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1 in Hamburg.

German original

“Pastor Daffa Djammo (Oromo): Hielt sich damals in der Hermannsburger Missionsanstalt auf und stand im Juli 1952 für experimentalphonetische Aufnahmen und sprachliche Auskünfte zur Verfügung.

Cross-reference

» Background of the Oromo New Testament (1893)

Origin of the Oromo NT (1893) in Marburg