Katrina Esau
| Katrina Esau GCOB | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1936 Rosedale, Upington, Cape Province |
| Other names | Ouma Katrina Ouma Geelmeid |
| 💼 Occupation | |
Katrina Esau GCOB (born 1933) (also known as Queen Katrina or Geelmeid which means "yellowmaid" in Afrikaans) in the Northern Cape was a South African woman who was a member of the ǂKhomani (Nǁnǂe) San and one of the last speakers of the Nǁng language.[1]
Life
She was born in Olifantshoek, Upington, Cape Province in 1933. Five brothers and eight sisters made up their family.[2] One of South Africa's living legends, Ouma Katrina is a nonagenarian who is the last fluent speaker of the critically endangered N|uu language. N|uu, an ancient San language from the Tuu family, was believed to be extinct until quite recently. However, in the late 1990s, speakers of the language were encouraged to contribute to its survival and resuscitation, and the language began to reappear in the Northern Cape. Ouma Katrina and her siblings were among the about twenty elderly individuals who were proficient in the language at the time. Ouma Katrina is the last member of the group to survive. Nonetheless, she has made it her life's work to teach young people from her community in a small classroom at her Rosedale, Northern Cape, home in order to preserve the language for future generations.[3]
Honours and awards
In 2014 she was awarded the Order of the Baobab (Silver) for "For her excellent contribution to the preservation of a language that is facing a threat of extinction."[4]
The University of Cape Town (UCT) honoured Her Excellency ǂXuu with a degree in appreciation of her lifetime dedication to the preservation of the N|uu language, which was formerly spoken in the nation by the San people. She was awarded an honorary doctorate.[5][6]
Books
- Katrina Esau and Claudia Snyman !Qhoi n|a Tjhoi/Tortoise and Ostrich/Skilpad en Volstruis (Cape Town: New Africa Books, 2021) . ISBN : 9781485631071
See also
References
- ↑ "Trying to save South Africa's first language". BBC News. 2017-08-29. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ↑ Trok, Lorato (May 4, 2022). "The Incredible Quest to Preserve a Dying South African Language". Port of Harlem. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ↑ "Ouma Katrina Esau: Reviving a language, one child at a time". University of Cape Town News. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ↑ "Katrina Esau". The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ↑ "UCT honours 'indefatigable' Ouma Katrina". University of Cape Town News. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ↑ Evans, Jenni. "'Ouma Katrina' honoured with literature doctorate by UCT in recognition of preserving San language". News24. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
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