Abuja: What if the most effective way to combat language endangerment is to empower community members to document their own languages? The Kam Language Project is an example of how community-led efforts can help preserve endangered languages. Kam (also known as Nyingwom) is a language spoken in 29 villages in the Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria, with an estimated 8,000-11,000 speakers. Despite its prevalence, Kam did not receive attention from researchers until 2016, leaving it without written literature, a dictionary, standardized orthography, or audiovisual documentation.
According to Global Voices, Dr. Jakob Lesage, a linguist at the Institute of Asia and African Studies, Humboldt-Universit¤t zu Berlin, initiated the Kam Language Project in 2016 to address this gap. Over ten years, Lesage collaborated with 14 community members to document the language through a decentralized approach. By March 2026, the team had produced grammar reference material, a digital dictionary, 307 audio and video recordings, and a dedicated website for Kam.
Lesage shared insights into his work with Abdulrosheed Fadipe, highlighting Nigeria's linguistic diversity and the urgent need for documentation. He noted that while Kam is still actively spoken, it faces pressure from socio-economic changes, such as urban migration and shifts in traditional farming practices. By documenting Kam while it is still in use, the project aims to preserve the language's cultural context and significance.
The project emphasized community involvement, with native speakers guiding documentation priorities. Lesage's decentralized model allowed community members to take charge, ensuring the documentation reflected what they deemed valuable. Despite challenges like academic pressures for short-term results, Lesage focused on creating a sustainable model where community ownership was paramount.
Babangida Audu, the language documentation coordinator, recounted how he joined the project after Lesage sought local assistance. The team was trained in using recording equipment, transcription, and translation, ensuring the preservation of Kam for future generations. Garba Rahab Precious, another team member, highlighted the collaborative effort in preserving the language.
The project faced significant challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted travel. Lesage adapted by implementing remote training and overcoming logistical hurdles in equipment delivery and file-sharing. The absence of a writing system for Kam posed another challenge, resolved by relying on natural speaker intuitions.
Lesage expressed pride in the project's achievements, emphasizing the cultural loss that would accompany the disappearance of the Kam language. For the global community, losing Kam would mean losing a unique perspective on human culture and language. The collaborative effort underscores the potential for community-led initiatives to preserve endangered languages and their cultural heritage.