LOCAL PARTNER: Gurapau Group
Background and objective:
The El-Molo is a small group of Eastern Cushitic-speaking people whose origin appears to be closely tied with those of the Dassanech community in the north. At some point in time, the El-Molo split from the Dassanech and moved to the Omo Delta in southwest Ethiopia. One of the most puzzling aspects of the El-Molo people is their alarmingly slow rate of population growth, resulting in a genetically-dying race. Today, it is estimated that the El-Molo language consists of fewer than 500 words, and even these have not been documented. Some elders are able to speak simple sentences and conduct songs and prayers in incomprehensible verses. The project aims to promote a visit by the El-Molo fishing community of northern Kenya to the Arbore people of southern Ethiopia in order to trace the remaining El-Molo language speakers in the region and initiate a language revival process. The language will then be documented and taught to El-Molo children in Kenya.
It entails revival of El-molo language through learning, usage and continual search and documentation of new and emerging words, phrases, language sounds and phonetics.The proposed project aims to promote learning and usage of collected El-molo words and phrases through formal and informal language education to children and adults. It also aims to continually support research activities through collection of additional data to fill gaps left by the previous project. The language will be continually documented and taught to both young and old community members of El-molo indigenous tribe in Kenya.
Local partner information:
The Gurapau Group is an indigenous CBO established and managed by members of the El-Molo community. It was initially registered under the name “El-Molo Community Development Project Group” but later changed its name to Gurapau Group. Its areas of work include culture and heritage, education, primary health care, community awareness and empowerment, environmental protection, inter-community peace and harmony building, income generation and self-reliance, and the promotion of human and land rights for the El-Molo people.
