Redemption Through Oral Storying: Komba’s Story

Komba’s Story: Redemption Through Oral Storying

by Barry Abbott, World Team Missionary

World Team missionary, Barry Abbott, tells Komba’s story, a story of redemption and renewal born from hearing the Word of God through oral storying.

Genesis 26:4
“I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed…”

The evening fire smolders and its smoke rises above a small wooden house in the rainforest of Cameroon as the last portions of the evening meal are shared by the family that lives within. Dinner includes cassava leaves that have been pounded and mixed with ground peanuts. They are served with a dish called ‘kimo’ in the local language (mashed plantains that are boiled and formed into small balls). It is a food and a utensil. Each person uses their own portion to dip the cassava leaves from the pot and pop it into their mouths.

Some women are seated under the eve of the thatched roof with their backs resting against the mud and stick wall. One woman, wearing a single bolt of fabric wrapped around her torso, is nursing her baby as she talks with the others about the events of the day. Some older children are running around with our kids and kicking up the red dust that colors everything next to the logging roads in the dry season. Pieces of wood and a couple of benches have been placed in a circle awaiting those that would arrive shortly. Some men wearing tattered flip-flops have gathered and are talking about a recent hunting expedition. We are greeted with the common question, “Are you awake?” We reply to each greeting “Yes. And you are too.” Night has fallen and the stars are illuminating the sky in brilliant display; a fitting canopy to highlight this evening’s event . . . a story.

Tonight the story is about a man named Abraham and the promise that Komba made to him long ago to multiply his descendants like the stars in the sky.

After the story is told, I ask everyone gathered, “Who can count the stars in the sky?” Everyone laughs as one old man answers for the crowd of families assembled together, “No one can do this.” “No one?”, I challenge. “It is only God who can count the stars of the sky.” another young man replies.

These families are familiar with storytelling. The primary reason is that stories have always played a crucial role in their lives. They have served as a means of remembering loved ones who have passed away, explaining events and their meanings, and preserving their history and their understanding of how the Baka people relate to rest of creation. They are used in celebration and mourning. They evoke laughter, anger, shouts of surprise, and groans of disapproval. Their lives and stories have always been linked together. Since the beginning of their existence, the Baka have come together to tell stories.

These same people have become familiar with the stories of God’s Word over the last couple of years. This night is a part of their tradition now. We know because when have missed an evening due to a passing thunderstorm we have also heard their laments the following day. “Where were you? We waited for you.” We are encouraged that hearing God’s word has become an important part of their week.

We are also encouraged that our community is changing. A common sound today is the sound of singing. Anyone familiar with the Baka people would not be surprised by this. Song and music play as significant of roles in their lives as do story. They are inseparable. Stories are almost always combined with song. Likewise, God’s stories are coupled with songs that compliment, celebrate, and punctuate truth. As God’s Story is becoming familiar to them, so are His songs.

Children and adults alike sing ‘We are praying to God and trusting in Jesus’ as they go about their work and play. Others are ‘praying’ in song ”Jesus, open our eyes so that we can see Your path. Open our ears so that we can hear Your word.” At the end of a song such, one person will say the words, “Kpaje a Komba (the path of God)” to which all others present will respond, “Senene (illuminated).” God’s path is becoming illuminated. His word is reaching the ears of the Baka people.

This sound is resonating through the forests of southeastern Cameroon. It is traveling dusty roads and bringing refreshment to souls that have been parched and thirsty for living water. We have received a wonderful response from the initial Bible study group and have completed the OT stories and the Gospel story of the NT. We are excited about what God is doing in the hearts of our neighbors through His Word. Today there are three groups coming together at different times throughout the week to hear God’s story. Last week we had our first combined Bible study with two of the groups. With these groups we have come to a crucial point in the presentation of three stories; the betrayal of Jesus, His death, and the resurrection.

We are excited and surprised. Many things have not gone exactly as we had expected. In fact, we are finding that things are unfolding before our eyes in a rather uncontrolled fashion. In our first group, there was an old man who would utter mild expletives as he heard details of certain stories such as the time when Abraham brought Isaac to be offered on the altar. We couldn’t control his response. Was it appropriate to respond in this way at a Bible study? Well, we wouldn’t encourage it, but that same old man came to me not long ago to ask how to enter into the life that Christ offers. I prayed with him as the truth of God’s word took life changing root in his life.