Vaalbooi is regarded as having played a fundamental role in the preservation and promotion of the N!uu language. She is also said to be first person to surface as a fluent speaker of the language and played a significant role in the development of the Northern Cape provincial motto. 

The language is estimated to be around 25 000 years old with only a few people still able to speak it fluently. As part of on-going national Heritage Month celebrations the provincial department of Arts and Culture will unveil a tombstone for her today. 

Department spokesperson, Conrad Fortune, highlights that 2019 had been declared by the United Nations as the year when the world would celebrate indigenous languages in efforts to preserves culture and diversity. Khoisan language activists have long called for celebration of indigenous languages and said such celebrations would help raise awareness and preserve culture.

OFM News