THE QUEEN of the N|uu language, Ouma Katrina Essau, 92, was honoured during a special celebration led by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, in Upington on April 24.

Essau is the last known remaining fluent speaker of the critically endangered N|uu language and is considered to be one of South Africa’s living legends.

Spokesperson for the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Stacey-Lee Khojane, said Ouma Katrina was widely recognised as a living human treasure.

“She is a revered figure and champion of safeguarding the N|uu language and Khoi-San cultural heritage.”

The event that was held in partnership with the Northern Cape Provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), and the ZF Mgcawu district municipality, paid tribute to her extraordinary efforts in preserving and promoting the N|uu language and Khoi-San literature and culture.

The UN classified the N|uu language as critically endangered

Khojane stated that the N|uu language was officially declared extinct in 1973 following the systematic marginalisation of indigenous languages under apartheid and the enforced dominance of Afrikaans in public and economic life.

“Ouma Katrina stands among the last fluent speakers who played a vital role in reviving this ancient San language.”

She added that recognising the urgent need to preserve her mother tongue, Essau had dedicated herself to teaching N|uu to both children and adults in her community in a tiny classroom at her home in Rosedale.

“This will ensure that this invaluable oral tradition is passed on to future generations.”

Khojane indicated that her unwavering commitment had contributed towards the development of a multilingual N|uu dictionary that was funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

“This serves as a critical resource in ongoing language preservation efforts. Significantly, the event also forms part of South Africa’s Freedom month commemorations, to reflect upon untold stories and to celebrate unsung heroes and heroines who have shaped the nation’s cultural and historical landscape."

She added that the preservation and promotion of the N|uu language remained central to the identity and heritage of the San people.

"This reinforces the need to protect and uplift indigenous knowledge systems,” she added.

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Preserving heritage: Queen of N|uu language celebrated for cultural legacy