M’ɔkɔngɔ w’ɛnɔnyi, washimelaka nkfumbo kɛ Betɛlɛ ambɔ walekɔ la djonyi dj’anto wayapɛyɛ l’ɛkɔpa djɛ ntokotshɛ lá Filialɛ kelá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ, edjena k’iyile mashinyi wɔ bango woposɛki enkanda. Ndjilaka djiina djɛmi edjinge ndjalaka l’osasa wɔ nsɔnama. Wasɔnaka edjinge wananyɔ ankina asato wayalaki lá Betɛlɛ djɛ Canada wanɛ: Dennis Leech, Bill McLellan, edjinge Ken Nordin. Watoshimelaka ambɔ tongoshikala edja lá Betɛlɛ djelá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ!

Ndjetaka mama lá telefɔnɛ ko ndoshimelaka ente: “Mama, ndekɔ la losango lɔ nkoshimela. Ntatshu tá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ!” Mama kɛmi ayalaki omoto wɔ vu vu, koko woyalaki la djawo edjinge la lonyuma lɔ wɔlɔ efula. Nde atatepela akambo efula koko ndjewaka ente langowa osukɔ wɔnde. Ayale nde kaanga papa kɛmi lako onto wotonisa nkano djɛ mɔshi, koko wayalaka l’okiyano ambɔ lambowangɔ otale isawɔ.

Tondo, totshɔka tá Betɛlɛ djɛ Brooklyn, l’iyatotokfumbaka isanɛyi kɛkɔ l’ilá kɛ Ngɔndɔ isato lá kɛnɛ kelendana la wopo wɔ nkamba la mashinyi ɔmɔtshi woposɛ enkanda. Masɔ tɔsaka masuwa má ngando kɛ Cape Town, tá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ. Láyalaki ngo l’ɛnɔnyi 20 toko. Lá nkɔlɔ totateyɛka lɔkɛndɔ lotale lá trɛ má ngando kɛ Cape Town tá Johannesburg. Edjena kɛ ntondo k’isemala ayalaka lá ngando kɛ daambi kelá Karoo. Owila wɔsɔ wayalaki etengo lɔsɛnga, ovutu, etoko, edjinge djangasa efula. Isanɛyi kɛkɔ, talengelaki má adindishi edjinge toyawopolaka ente, wopo wɔkɔnge wɔ mbandja kɛnɛ? Lá mbandja kɛ nghɔnɛ ndeke ɔkɔpaso ndintansɛ? Ɛnɔnyi efula m’ɔkɔngɔ, toyɛka ndotateyɛ mbembola ngando yɛ daambi yɛsɔ edjinge toyɛka ndɔkɔpa wopo w’iyalaka wɔlɔ efula edjinge lowiko lɔ vu lolekɔ leteyi.

L’ilá k’ɛnɔnyi emangha, olemo wɔmi woyalaka wɔ nkamba la mashinyi ɔmɔtshi wɔ nkamɔ edjinge wɔ wolo w’etawɔ Linotype, la mbɔngɛka edjena kɛ Etange k’Olami edjinge Emɔ! mposa. Biro djɛ filialɛ djelá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ djaposɛki enkanda wel’etepela efula welá Afrikɛ, apengo welá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ toko koko wɛ ewila efula welá Afrikɛ. Tokambaka wɔlɔ efula la mashinyi w’ekekete wɔ bango woposɛki enkanda wɔsɔ, wɔtɔtɔlisa tá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ!

M’ɔkɔngɔ, ndjɛka ndokamba lá biro djelendanaki la wayi watshikitanyi, oposelo la otomelo w’enkanda, edjinge olemo w’okandjimwelo. Láyalaki l’olemo  wɔ ntshina efula edjinge wɔ pɛyɛ osasa lá lowiko.

Lá 1968, ntshukanaka isa yat’ekalo imɔtshi, Laura Bowen, kanga l’intasɛki entshupa la Betɛlɛ. Lonkina nde akotshɛki ase Departema djekadjimola enkanda lá nfuna. L’etsho wɛsɔ, watayalaki la nonghanyi kɛ wambotshuka bango nyitansɛ lá Betɛlɛ, djɛkondeke watotomaka etengo tat’ekalo totshikitanyi. Láyalaki la ndambo k’okiyano daambi. M’ɔkɔngɔ wɔ ndjala lá Betɛlɛ ɛnɔnyi djomi, l’edjena k’iyɔtɔpɛyɛka olelo edjinge mvulu yɛ wɔlɔ, wopo wɔkɔnge isongotokotshɛka ehomba wɛso la ikfukfuta y’iyapɛyɛka tat’ekalo totshikitanyi? Watɔpɛyɛki onto l’onto rand 25 (ntepela ente dɔlara y’ase Amɛrikɛ 35.) ngɔndɔ inkfumɔ, ntsha tombokotshɛ winá w’iyatɔlɔmbaka, tonanghaka mbembo edjinge tokapaka tojurnalɛ. La nfalanga yɛsɔ, ndeke isayalaka ladjɛ nfutela mvulu, nsomba nkete djɛ ndɛ edjinge nfuta transpɔrɔ, opitalo edjinge nkete nkina.

Watotomaka tá iloyi imɔtshi yɛ daambi yɛ ngando kɛ Durban, lá Océan Indien. Ase Inde wayalaki efula l’eteyi, efula kɛwɔ wayalaki tonkana la tonkanola tɔ ase olemo, wakambaki l’eteyi l’izinɛ yeposɛki sikrɛ l’ekomo k’ɛnɔnyi wɛ 1800. Etsho wɛnɛ, iwɔ walokamba elemo enkina, koko wapatshike nkfumbo djɛwɔ djɛ nkatshɛ, ndjila edjinge yopo yɛwɔ yɛ wɔlɔ yɛ nfumba nkete w’iyetaka kiri. Edjinge watepelaki Angɛlɛ, nghɔsɔ ndeke akambo iyoyala wɔdju leso.

Walɔmbaki tatekalo totshikitanyi djɛ mpɛyɛ winá 150 ngɔndɔ inkfumɔ l’olemo w’ipoposanyɛ, djekondeke, lemi isa Laura tɔsaka nonghanyi kɛ mpoposanyɛ winá esamalo lofu lɔ ntondo. Etatshi kɛ looko kɛsɔ keyalaka yane edjinge ntshitshi. Totayala la mbembo yɛ mbembola edjinge l’ambeki,koko tonanghaka ngo winá esamalo lámvulu la mvulu. M’ɔkɔngɔ w’iso ntateyɛ ndambo k’ilá, ndendaka lá ntango kɛmi nyɛnaka djɛ ntombonangha ngo minitɛ 40 toko! Ndawopolaka ente, tongoyala nsɔsɔlɔ l’akoka wa nkotshɛ olemo wɔ yat’ekalo yetshikitanyi wɔnɛ?

Lako ndjala ilá, toyalonghanyɛka isɔmɛlɛ. Nfu inkfumo tatshɔki la mampa w’iyilaka ndambo kɛ nyama l’eteyi, tilaki osuku kana kafe lá tɛrmusɛ. Ko winá w’isokaka ndjala, t’emadjɛki itatuka yɛso y’iyetaka Volkswagen lá ntshitshi kel’anse k’etamba edjinge wana w’ɛwɔngi w’ase Indɛ watodjingaki djɛ ntolenda! L’etsho emangha toko, totateyɛka nyɛna ente m’ɔkɔngɔ wɔ winá emangha mpeta, winá enkina wɛnɛ wahetaki lankeke lankeke.

Ɔsɔngo osasa woyalisa laso djɛ ndjakala losango lɔ nsɔsɔlɔ le anto wewa ndongwana wel’etatshi kɛ looko kɛsɔ! Tɛnaka ente ase Indɛ walekɔ anto amɔtshi walekɔ la dilɛmɛlɔ, wel’oloko wɔlɔ, edjinge w’okaki Ndjambe wɔma. Ase Hindu w’elolaki wɔlɔ efula la losango l’isayakalaka. Iwɔ wakɔpaki ndjeka wayi walendana la Yehova, Yeso, Bible, andja wa bango wayaye wa vu edjinge nkongi djelekɔ l’anto wambovɔ. M’ɔkɔngɔ w’ɔnɔnyi ɔmɔ, towaka ambeki wa Bible 20. Nfu inkfumɔ talɛki la nkfumbo kɛmɔtshi l’anteyi yɛ ankfumbo yekaki laso Bible. Tayalaki l’osasa efula.

Ataheta ilá, towaka odjito onkina, watotomaka t’olemo w’edjingadjinga l’etatshi kɛ looko kɛ wɔlɔ efula kɛ Océan Indien. Mbengo inkfumɔ nkfumbo kɛmɔtshi watolongolaki winá w’isayalaka lá membo edjinge takambaki esanga l’ansakodji yel’otshumano djɛ ndakembɛ. Tokomaka etengo ase nkfumbo yɛwɔ, tasasangaki la wana wawɔ edjinge la nyama yɛwɔ y’iyakɛndjɛka. Ɛnɔnyi epe wɛ wɔlɔ efula wetohetelaka l’olemo wɔsɔ. M’ɔkɔngɔ, l’isasimoyɛ, towaka leeta má telefɔnɛ má biro djɛ filialɛ, ko watoshimelaka ambɔ: “Tokombola djɛ nyo nkalɔ lonkina lá Betɛlɛ.” Ndaasakisolaka ente: “Nyo ndjewaka ente tolekɔ nsɔsɔlɔ l’osasa efula lanɛ.” Koko, lá nsɔsɔlɔ, toyalaka entshupa dj’iwɔ nkamba laso l’edjena kiyakɔpɛ ntotoma.

Winá wɔ makalɔ lá Betɛlɛ wandjilaka lá Departɛma dj’Olemo, ndjalaka la mpeyi kɛ nkamba la wananyɔ efula wambotshunda lá nyuma edjinge walekɔ la balo efula. L’etsho wɛsɔ, otshumano onkfumɔ awaki onkanda lá nkilika alapɔlɔ w’onami w’edjingadjinga m’ɔkɔngɔ wɔ mbembo kɛnde. Onkanda wɔsɔ wayalaki l’okoma wɔ ndaakembɛ edjinge ndaampɛyɛ ɛlɔndjɛlɔ k’okokawɔ ndjala la djonyi. Eposelo weyalaki la nkambo djɛsɔnde, wa sɛkɛlɛtɛlɛ yɛso wayalaki l’olemo efula wɔ nkadjimola enkanda wɛsɔ má Xhosa, Zulu, edjinge má etepela enkina tá Angɛlɛ edjinge m’ɔkɔngɔ má Angɛlɛ tá  etepela enkina welá Afrikɛ. Lakɔpaki ankandjimodji yekambaki olemo wɔ wolo wɔsɔ edjinge wankotshɛki djɛ nsipisoyɛ ekakasano wepomanaki la wananyɔ l’ankaana yɛso y’anto wa tshulu welá Afrikɛ.

L’eleko kɛsɔ, ase Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ wawikaki lá nonghanyi kilisa lɛɛta k’etawɔ apartheid (ntepela ente nonghanyi kekapolaki anto wa tshulu l’asungu). Oloyi l’oloyi wayalaki l’etashi kɛwɔ kɛ looko, djɛkondeke djokanelo djetayalaki efula l’antenyɛ anto wayalaki la mposo y’alemba yetshikitanyi. Wananyɔ waso w’anto wa ntshulu welá Afrikɛ, wapoposanyɛki l’etepela wɛwɔ iyɔmɛlɛ, edjinge w’ingelaki nsanghanyɛ yɛwɔ iyɔmɛlɛ.

Ntewaki wananyɔ waso w’anto wa tshulu welá Afrikɛ, mande otshumano wɔmi wayalaki l’etatshi kɛ looko ketepelaki ngo otepela w’Angɛlɛ. Koko, win’ɔsɔ, lambowa mpeyi kɛ ndjeka akambo walendana l’anto wa tshulu welá Afrikɛ edjinge nkfumbo djɛwɔ la nanghedji djɛwɔ. Lambewa ekakasano wepomanaki la wananyɔ lá kɛnɛ kelendana la nkfumbo dj’andoyi yɛwɔ, edjinge nkfumbo dj’ɛtɛmwɛlɔ. Ɔsɔngo eloko wolo weyalisa lawɔ má ndjopa losambi la nkfumbo djepalekɔ m’Afunelo edjinge djɛ nfulumeyɛ ndjolo yawɛnyɛki ankfumbo yɛwɔ l’ase mbandja winá w’otonawɔ nkilika nkfumbo dj’ɛdjɛngɛ! Lá mbandja yel’ekonda, ase ɛmvɔ walekɔ efula. Efula kɛwɔ watingela nkalasa efula, koko iwɔ nɛmɛyɛka Bible.

Mbaka mpeyi kɛ nkambaka l’akambo amɔtshi walendana la dombo walendana la lotshungɔ l’ɔtɛmwɛlɔ edjinge lɔ ontateyi. Nyɛna nkɔmano edjinge oloko wolo woyalaki la dangala dj’Ewakɛ djawolaki nkilikama má ankalasa m’ɔtɛ w’iyatone ndjingela l’alɔmbɛlɔ wawɔ kana ntshumba yembo w’owila, nkembɛka djawo.

Wananyɔ wel’owila wɔ daambi wel’Afrikɛ w’etawɔ Swaziland wapomanaka l’okakasano onkina. Winá wɔ Nkfumi Sobhuza II, ndavu, walɔmbaka ase citizens ankfumɔ djɛ nanghantshaka. Ampame wayalaka ladjɛ nkoola tɔnkɔtɔmbɔ edjinge amato ndjopa afo wawɔ. Wananyɔ l’ankaana wɛnaka ndjolo m’ɔtɛ w’iyatone nangha akambo wayalaki la losambi l’ɔtɛmwɛlɔ w’andoyi wɔsɔ. Ɔsɔngo nkɔmano djɛwɔ te Yehova iyakote eloko wɛso! Tekaka akambo efula lá kɛnɛ kelendana la djawo, nkɔmano, edjinge balentshintshi djɛ wananyɔ waso wel’Afrikɛ, edjinge nkambo djɛsɔ djekembɛka djawo djɛso.

Lá 1981, wampɛyɛka odjito wɔ nkotshɛ l’olemo w’opeselo w’enkanda má nkamba la ɔrdinatɛrɛ. Lasɔ nkalɔka lonkina tá mashinyi woposɛwɔ enkanda.  Ɔsɔ ayalaka nkambo djɛ wɔlɔkɔ efula! Topo t’iyaposɛka enkanda totshikitanaka. Owandji ɔmɔtshi wolenda oloyi ɔmɔtshi woposɛwɔ enkanda apɛyɛka kɔmite kɛ filialɛ mashinyi ɔmɔtshi w’ekekete woposɛ enkanda wetawɔ photocomposeuse dj’iwɔ nsɛsa, ipa la nfuta nfalanga. Kɛsɔ ketokomɛka djɛ mpɛnyɛ mashinyi djuwa w’iyetaka Linotype la mashinyi etano wɛ bango edjinge wɛ nkekete wɛ photocomposeuse. Toyɛka ndowanga nkamba edjinge la mashinyi onkina wɔ bango woposɛ enkanda. Towangaka mposɛ enkanda efula ndeka wopo w’isananghaka ntondo!

Okambelo wɔ l’ɔrdinatɛrɛ wɔsɔ, wotokotshɛka djɛ nkamba la topo tonkina tɔ bango tɔ nonghanyɛ efunelo m’akishi l’okotshɔ wɔ MEPS, ntepela ente yopo y’oposelo w’enkanda m’Ɛntɛrnɛtɛ l’etepela wetshikitanyi. Tombonangha lɔkɛndɔ l’otale lá kɛnɛ kelendana la ntshulatshula dj’okambawɔ la djɛkɔ djɛ mposɛ enkanda. Towangaka má mashi wetawɔ Linotype woyalaki la lokekete efula wetoyakalisa iso wa Betelitɛ inɛyi má Canada tá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ! (Iza. 60:17) Ntateyɛ masɔ, isanɛyi kɛkɔ totshukaka ankaana yɛ wɔlɔ yɛ tat’ekalo la yɛkɔpa Yehova. Lemi isa Bill tokindjɛ nkamba la Betɛlɛ. Ken nya Dennis wayɛka ndowota ko wintasɛka la nkfumbo yɛwɔ entshupa la lasɔ.

Elemo welá filialɛ wefulaka. Enkanda wesakisola Bible wekadjimwamaki edjinge weposaki l’etepela efula wetahandaki ngo mpanda edjinge watomamaki tá afilialɛ inkina. Eposelo woyalisa la nkambo ntshɔ nde, alɔmbamaka Betɛlɛ kenkina kɛ bango. Wananyɔ wapikaka Betɛlɛ nkina djɛ bango djɛsɔ l’owila wɔ wɔlɔ efula welá owɛstɛ wɔ Johannesburg, edjinge wananghaka inauguration lá 1987. Ndjalaka l’osasa wɔ mpɛyɛ lɔwɔ l’efulelo wɛsɔ edjinge djɛ nkamba etengo ose kɔmite kɛ filialɛ kelá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ l’ilá k’ɛnɔnyi efula.

Nkambo djɛ nkamɔ nde, lá 2001 watetaka djɛ ntokamba lá filialɛ kɛ bango kenanghemisa l’États-Unis. Kaanga isayale l’okiyano efula wɔ ntshika olemo wɔsɔ edjinge tolongo tɔso telá Afrikɛ wa Sidɛ, toyalaka l’osasa wɔ mbanga lowiko lɔ bango etengo ase nkfumbo kɛ Betɛlɛ kelá États-Unis.

Koko, toyalaka lonkina l’okiyano wɔ mbangɔ otale la mama kɛ Laura kanga loyalaki ekokolo. Ayalaka okakasano leso djɛ ndokotshɛ wɔlɔ má New York, koko ankfune w’amato asato wa Laura wokotshɛki la nkete djelá demba, lofalanga, edjinge wɔwɛnyɛki ngandji. Iwɔ watepelaka ambɔ: “Isɔmɛlɛ topalekɔ l’akoka wa nkamba l’olemo wɔ winá enkfumɔ, koko ntsha iso nkotshɛ ehomba wɛ nyɔ kɛso, tongokokotshɛ wɛ djɛ nkindjɛ olemo wɔkɔ.” Tolekɔ nsɔsɔlɔ la djedjɛ dj’efula tewɔ.

L’ikanyi yɛkɔ imɔ, ankfunɛmi nya wadjɛnde w’intansɛ lá Toronto, Canada, wakotsheyɛki mama kɛmi kɛ wandjɛ odjo ehomba wɛnde. Lá winá wɔsɔ, ko nde amboshiyɛka ndj’intansɛ nyawɔ l’ilá k’ɛnɔnyi 20. Tolekɔ la djedjɛ dj’efula tewɔ lá wopo w’iyɔkɔpaka edjinge w’iyokotshiyɛka ehomba wɛnde tii tá nyɔyi kɛnde k’indavu ndambo daambi m’ɔkɔngɔ w’iso nkoma lá New York. Isɔngo ɔtshɔkɔ wɔ mba osukɔ w’ase nkfumbo walekɔ entshupa djɛ nangha etshikitano lá lowiko lɔwɔ ngo djɛ nkotshɛ odjito wokoka ndjala okakasano lewɔ!

L’ilá k’ɛnɔnyi ɛmɔtshi olemo w’imakambaka lanɛ l’États-Unis walendanaki l’oposelo w’enkanda, olemo wotalekaki ntshikitana djɛ djokanyɛ l’akambo w’etsho wɛnɛ edjinge wotaleki ndjala wɔdju efula. Lako mpeta ilá ntateyɛka nkamba lá Departɛma djelendana l’osombelo wɔ nkete. Ɔsɔngo osasa wɔ mpetshɛ ɛnɔnyi 20 l’eteyi kɛ filialɛ k’ekete kelekɔ winá wɔsɔ l’ase nkfumbo kɛ Betɛlɛ 5 000 edjinge la wananyɔ l’ankaana wayapɛyɛ l’ɛkɔpa 2 000

Lá ntondo k’ɛnɔnyi akumi asamalo, wɛ motakanelaki ente langoyala lanɛ. Laura ansukaka l’oloko ɔmɔ l’ilá k’ɛnɔnyi enkfumɔ wɛsɔ. Ɔsɔngo lowiko lolekɔ la ntshina l’isombohetshɛ! Iso ndɔsaka la ntshina edjito enkfumɔ w’isombowa edjinge anto w’eloko wɔlɔ wakamba laso esanga ndjila edjinge wanɛ walekɔ lá wa filialɛ efula y’isawembolaka lá djena efula djel’andja, l’olemo wɔ filialɛ. Winá wɔ momoyala l’ɛnɔnyi 80 wɔsɔ, wambokitshakitshɛ dambo k’olemo mande wananyɔ wa dangala wakfumbamaka djɛ nkamba olemo w’imakambaka.

Ontshumbi yeembo anfunaka ante: ‘Osasa le owila wɔ Yehova ndeke Ndjambe kɛwɔ.’ (Yee. 33:12) Nkambo djɛsɔ dekɔ nsɔsɔlɔ! Ndekɔ nsɔsɔlɔ la djedjɛ efula lá wopo wɔ mawa mbamba kɛ nkambela Yehova esanga l’enkambi wɛnde w’osasa.