Koisa ole Lengai of the Yaaku, Goes on A mission to Save a Language

The Yaaku are known honey gatherers of Laikipia and are related to the Rendile but have now been assimilated by the Samburu. The Yaaku were also known as the Mukogodo, meaning the people who live on rocks. It is said that the Yaaku are the one who taught the Samburu honey gathering and the benefits of honey. Originally the Samburu were very afraid of bees.

The Yaaku, however, were ethnic hunter-gatherers and beekeepers who lived in caves in their forest, until the intermixing of peoples in the 20th century changed their way of life.

The year was 1960 and Koisa ole Lengai had finally left his village. The excitement flowing through his veins was electric and he wanted to climb the tallest tree and scream at the top of his lungs. The world needed to know that he was on a mission. What he did not know was that fate was not on his side.

A few days earlier, a German linguist had approached him for help. Lengai was very
wary of the German because he had seen the atrocities the white man was capable of.
The German, Bernd Heine, had heard about the near extinction of the Yakunte language (the language of the Yaaku) and was looking for a way to preserve it. He had travelled to the forest located west of Mt. Kenya, where the Yaaku people live. Lengai had agreed to accompany Heine to Nairobi to teach Yaaku at the University of Nairobi. However, after only two weeks in the capital, Lengai disappeared, never to be found again.

As the years went by, less and less people could speak Yakunte. Today, only 7 people, all of who are above 75 years of age, can speak the language fluently. Most of the original Yakunte speakers were assimilated into the Maasai community and now speak the Maa language.

Although the dreams of Lengai were never realised, he will be remembered as the first Yaaku to attempt to save Yakunte language by teaching it in a formal institution.

As the number of Yakunte speakers has dwindled, various efforts are being made to save the language. For example, advocates established the Yaaku People Association in 2003. The association is dedicated to preserving Yakute culture. In 2004, some Yakunte speakers and a Dutch researcher worked on a Yakute dictionary. According to a recent BBC report, a local school funded by the French Cultural Group is holding language classes twice a month for young Yaaku.

Bonus Information

Yaaku are known honey gatherers of Laikipia who are related to the Rendile but now assimilated by the Samburu. It is said that they are the one who taught the Samburus honey gathering and the benefits of honey. Originally Samburus were very afraid of bees. Honey is a good source of antioxidants, it contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, it's used to heal wounds, help with digestive issues and sore throats.