El Molo

A language of Kenya

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

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