Rhapsody of Reality hits 7,000 world languages translations, breaks global record
By Moses Adeniyi
The Rhapsody of Realities, a daily devotional authored by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of The Christ Embassy, published by LoveWorld Publishing Ltd, has expanded its reach to 7,000 languages translation capacity, now the most translated book in the world.
The daily devotional has a vision to reach the entire 7,139 languages identified around the world, thus holding a possible readership capacity to reach the world’s 7.9 billion estimated population.
The publication which began the adult edition 22 years ago, now enjoys readership across the world, with audio versions and sign language translations to capture even the physically impaired, as well as special edition for children and kiddies.
The Director of Operations, LoveWorld Publishing, Pastor (Mrs.) Lola Aisida who made the disclosure of the broad reach of the book now been translated into 7,000 languages worldwide, disclosed that of these languages, 520 were from Nigerian extraction.
“Never in the history of the world, and in all the record books of Guinness Book of World Records, has any literary material – be it document, film, writing, book, or any piece of historical or modern parchment – been translated into 7,000 languages.
“The meteoric rise of the Rhapsody of Realities devotional to the most-coveted spot as the world’s No 1 daily devotional and now Most Translated Book in the world began with first edition published in the English Language by LoveWorld Publishing,” she said.
According to her, 22 years after, LoveWorld Publishing has grown into a vast network of publishers spread across several countries, adding that the work of translation is deployed by a massive army of translators who applied due diligence processes in delivering Rhapsody of Realities to all the 7,000 languages.
“By any standard, the work of translation is not an easy one. If it were, the world’s popularly literary pieces would have long been made available in all languages.
“On the contrary, authenticated records show that the most translated short film documentary is in eleven translations; the most translated short film has 22 translations; the most translated document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, produced by United Nations in 1948 has been translated into only 370 languages as of 2019.
“And, even the acclaimed Most Professionally Translated Author in the World, Agatha Christie has her books in only 100+ languages!” she said.
According to Aisida, translation is tedious work, even as she said that LoveWorld Publishing has proven that the translation of a book into all known languages of the World is work that can be done.
“There are 7,139 languages spoken today, but a report says 42 percent of these languages are endangered. These statistics posed a global challenge fit only for a global publishing house that transcends the inadequacies of the publishing space,” she said.
She mentioned that the penchant for excellence drove the reach to the world, mentioning that the feat is “big win” for Nigeria and Africa from where the publication first began to the rest of the world.
She concluded that LoveWorld Publishing will ensure that no language goes extinct as Rhapsody of Realities will remain widely distributed month after month in over 7,000 languages of the world.
The General Manager, Translator Network International, Dr. Rukky Lawal, disclosed that the translation into 7,000 world languages has been possible through critical engagement with local communities across the world.
She mentioned that though there were challenges with the usage of translation technologies during the long term process, yet the glitches were surmounted through robust capacity building.
It was disclosed that in September, (2nd and 3rd) a testimony programme drawing on how feat was achieved with the impacts of the devotional would be convened, accommodating life changing testimonies of users across the world who have been richly blessed by the book.
Speaking, the Abuja Zonal Pastor, Christ Embassy, Dipo Esho, appreciated Pastor Oyakhilome “for bringing men into the reality of the original purpose for which they were created,” through the book.
He said the Ministry would ensure the book continues to reach all communities in nations of the world.
According to him, the purpose of the book is “to bring men back to their creator for their purpose to be fulfilled,” mentioning that testimonies abound of people in hopeless situations who have got the reason to live again by reading the book.
A user, Dr. Chris Iyamu, said the Rhapsody of Realities has been transforming lives, mentioning that as users, there have been the creation of study groups meeting daily to study the book conscientiously.
He said the book has been mind enlightening and the testimonies of its users have shown productive contributions in their various endeavors, including legislators in the National Assembly and public offices.
According to him, the 7000 languages translation feat is “worth celebrating and shouting about.”
A distributor, Mr Michael Egbo, who testified to being the first person who took the devotional out of the country said the book has been of a huge blessing to him and his family.
Egbo, who has been supplying the devotional to Ghana Prisons, said through the devotional over 400 prisoners gave their lives to Jesus Christ and one of them is now a Pastor of the Gospel in Togo.
He appreciated Pastor Oyakhilome for the opportunity to spread messages of good tidings which, he said, have been of blessings to people across the world through the devotional.
