What is the Shabo language? How can you help save it?

The Shabo language, also known as Mikeyir, is an endangered language spoken in only a small community in Ethiopia, primarily in the southwestern region near the Omo River. It belongs to the Nilo-Saharan language family. This is sometimes debated since it also has been influenced by neighboring Afro-Asiatic languages. As of recent years, an estimated number of native speakers is extremely low. Possibly fewer than 500 people speak it. Most members of the Shabo community have started to shift to more known languages in larger regions. This language has a complex and somewhat mysterious history. The Shabo people have always been a marginalized group, living in isolation, which has contributed to their lack of documentation on their language. Over time, as larger ethnic groups and more dominant languages such as Amharic and Majand spread, the use of Shabo diminished, particularly among younger generations. Today, the language faces the threat of extinction due to the very few fluent speakers. 

The Shabo language is endangered due to several factors contributing. Most of the younger generations are shifting to other regions that speak other languages due to economic, social, and educational reasons. The dominant cultures are the areas that have been coupled with other larger ethnic groups. This leads to a loss of traditional customs and languages. The Shabo language is not as native as it used to be due to these assimilations. The Shabo language has very limited written documents and without any proper records of the language, it will cease to exist soon enough, and it becomes very difficult to teach it or even preserve it. The Shabo community is very small and marginalized, so it makes it even harder for them to advocate for themselves for the preservation of their language and culture. 

To help this language from going extinct, it is best to raise awareness about the Shabo language and its importance. Education to the public about the value of language diversity is crucial and can inspire others to start making a change and get involved. Encouraging or funding research to document this language could also be vital. This could include making dictionaries, recording any oral history, and writing grammatical descriptions. Organizations like SIL International and the Endangered Languages Projects often work to keep endangered languages safe and could benefit from volunteers or even donations. Initiating local language learning classes to teach the younger generation the Shabo language could help keep it alive. Advocating for politics to protect and promote indigenous languages like Shabo is essential. We need to push for government initiatives that include Shabo in the school curriculum. The media could empower this community to keep their linguistic heritage as well.

Saving the Shabo languages requires collective action from everyone, globally but also locally. Raising awareness, supporting documentation efforts, promoting new problems, and advocating for government support are key ways to ensure that this valuable language does not disappear.