Kituba, Monokutuba in Congo, Republic of the

Introduction / History

The Brazzaville region has rainforests and grassy savannahs fed by tributaries from the Congo River. Families rely on subsistence farming and sell what they do not use. The Kituba language is one of two main languages in the Republic of Congo. People who speak Kituba live in the southern half of the country, in and between two major cities Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.

Though they have the New Testament, the Kituba people struggle to shed the remnants of traditional religion. Devotions spark hope, but without the foundation of the Old Testament, people are left without context, reducing their ability to apply biblical truths to real life experiences. Amid indecision, familiar traditional beliefs rush in like a flood, causing confusion and leaving frustration in their wake.

These traditional beliefs embrace a main creator of all things a supreme God who is only accessible to human beings after death. They also include belief in an array of intermediaries, such as spirits or ancestors, who are worshiped to obtain advice, healing and good harvests.

Without the benefit of the Old Testament, people fail to see the ways in which their cultural beliefs fall short of the full freedom and power offered in the New Testament. Churches are looking for a way to bridge the cultural gap and provide the breakthrough Kituba people need. The Kituba need a new standard a new cultural definition with a direct connection to God.

Text Source:   Anonymous