Settled in Mukogodo forest, in central Kenya<\/strong>, the Yaaku people used to live off hunting, picking, and the harvest of wild bee honey. But the arrival of the Maasai<\/strong> at the end of the 19th century changed everything: they were warriors of repute, rich with their herds, and they despised the Yaaku, less numbered and considered inferior because they had no sense of ownership. Gradual acculturation followed: the Yaaku started to farm livestock, left the forest, and turned to Maasai costumes, lifestyle\u2026 and language.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Yaaku Cultural Museum<\/p><\/div>\n A century later, the assimilation is almost complete\u2026 but not quite. The subject began to draw attention of foreign linguists and anthropologists about ten years ago, following which an association for the defense of the Yaaku people was launched in 2003<\/strong>. The elders are realizing that their language and culture are about to disappear completely and set about teaching it to the children.<\/p>\n And there is more at stake for the survival of the Yaaku as a people: Mukogodo forest<\/strong>, one of Kenya\u2019s rare remaining old-growth forests. This forest has sheltered the Yaaku from wild animals and enemies, it has fed them with its roots and healed them with its plants; they\u2019re very attached to it. 2,000 of them still actually live there in little hamlets. But the Maasai and the Samburu, another local ethnic group, are tearing it down to use its ground for cattle. In hope to have it protected, the Yaaku are claiming a right to property before the government: \u00ab\u00a0Our hope is that the new Constitution, which recognizes rights to the minorities, helps us have a say in the matter\u00a0\u00bb says Stephen Leriman, one of the elders, who still speaks the language and is involved in the survival of his culture.<\/p>\n \n \n \n Full article<\/a> (French)<\/p>\n![\"\u00a9](\"http:\/\/www.sorosoro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/yaaku2.jpg\" "\\"yaaku2\\"")