THE smallest community in the world, Yaaku, are in the process of writing a dictionary in its native language. Elder Manasseh Lax Matunge said they have embarked on the mission after acquiring a manuscript written by a German scholar 44 years ago.

On Saturday, a Hungarian doctor working with British army training unit in Kenya Szabo Laszlo presented the manuscript to the community. Laszlo said he traced Professor Bernd Heine in Germany and obtained the materials that he wrote between 1967 and 1969 when he was a lecturer of linguistics at the University of Nairobi.

According to United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Yaaku community is the smallest community on earth with a population of between 3,000 and 4,000 people.

The organisation has observed that the community is facing extinction, after its people were assimilated by the Maasai and Samburu. The community lives deep inside Mukogodo forest in Laikipia North subcounty. More.

See: The Star

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