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BY Novieku Babatunde Adeola, 9:07am August 09, 2019,

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6 indigenous African languages that are on the verge of extinction

by Novieku Babatunde Adeola, 9:07am August 09, 2019,

Katrina Esau teaching a class in Upington, Northern Cape — 84-year-old Katrina Esau is working hard to make sure that the language of her childhood outlives her_Photo: BBC

N|uu Language

N|uu is considered to be one of the most original languages spoken in Southern Africa. It is spoken by South Africa’s San community, also known as Bushmen.

Image result for 4-year-old Katrina Esau — At the age of 84, Katrina Esau and her sisters are the last three speakers of N|uu. Inside a small wooden hut, she teaches the 112 sounds and 45 distinct clicks of N|uu to a group of local children_Photo: BBC

According to the BBC, there are only 3 fluent speakers of the language as of 2017. With no other fluent speakers in the world apart from a family of 84-year-old, Katrina Esau, the language is recognized by the UN as “critically endangered”.

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: September 7, 2020

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