Only seven can speak dying language (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

Only seven can speak dying language

By SAMWEL KUMBA and MWANGI NDIRANGU
Posted Friday, March 5 2010 at 22:30
Africa

The death of an elderly woman last week may have gone unnoticed to
many, but to those fighting to preserve the culture of the Yaaku
community, it was a big blow. Not many Kenyans have heard of the Yaaku
community in Laikipia North district, or the fact that their total
population is just 6,000.

The Yaaku have been struggling to keep their culture, language and
tradition alive, and the death of their matriach, Ms Naruato Matunge,
aged 105, could not have come at a worse time. Until two weeks ago, Ms
Matunge was among the only remaining eight people who could speak pure
Yaaku language — Yakunte — fluently without using words borrowed from
the Maasai community, which is dominant in their region.

Access full article below:
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Only%20seven%20can%20speak%20dying%20language/-/1056/873770/-/mjies0z/-/