Nǀuu Language Has Only One Fluent Speaker Left in the World 

Nǀuu, often spelled Nluu or N!uu, is a Khoisan language spoken by the ǂKhomani people in South Africa. The language, which is one of the world’s oldest, is considered almost extinct as there is only one fluent speaker of it.

Nǀuu is culturally and historically significant in South Africa, as it is associated with the San people, the region’s first residents.

Ouma Katrina Esau is one of the last surviving fluent speakers of this ancient language. The 90-year-old woman is passionate about preserving Nǀuu which has been in existence for over 20,000 years. Katrina convenes Nǀuu lessons for children from her home in the Northern Cape and has also published the first Nǀuu children’s book titled ‘!Qhoi nǀa Tjhoi’.

The introduction of European settlers in southern Africa caused the relocation of the San people, marginalising their languages and cultures.

During apartheid, the San people endured tremendous discrimination, which weakened their language as they were forced to learn other languages such as Afrikaans or English in order to survive.

The language was left aside as younger generations learnt dominant languages. Because the language is not taught in schools and is rarely spoken in everyday life, younger members of the community did not learn it.

Katrina Esau has been essential in keeping the language alive. She has taught Nǀuu to children and collaborated with linguists to preserve the language for future generations.

Linguists have documented the language’s sounds, vocabulary, and oral traditions.
Some projects have been initiated to teach the language to younger generations, but these efforts encounter substantial obstacles because of the scarcity of proficient speakers.

The importance of preserving Nǀuu as a component of South Africa’s legacy is becoming increasingly recognised. Several cultural projects seek to raise awareness of the language’s endangered status and the need for its preservation.

As one of the most endangered languages in the world, it highlights the critical need for cultural preservation and the devastating impact of historical injustices on indigenous languages.