El Molo

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A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3
elo
Alternate Names
Dehes, Elmolo, Fura-Pawa, Ldes, “Ndorobo” (pej.)
User Population

No known L1 speakers. Last fluent speaker, Kaayo, died in 1999 (2012 M. Tosco). Ethnic population: 1,100 (2019 census).

Location

Marsabit county: Lake Turkana southeast shore, west of Mount Kulal.

Language Status

9 (Dormant).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Western Omo-Tana
Dialects

None known. The original language is reportedly similar to Daasanach [dsh].

Language Use

Shifted to Samburu [saq].

Language Development

Some revitalization may be taking place.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about El Molo
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Affiliated with the Samburu. “Ndorobo” is a pejorative term for several hunter or forest groups that are not linguistically related (El Molo, Yaaku, Okiek, Omotik). Traditional religion.