Google has published a doodle in honor of the late professor Okoth Okembo of Nairobi University on what would be his 71st birthday.
Prof Okombo is one of the founders of the scientific study of sign language in Africa and a distinguished scholar in Nilotic language study.
The doodle was illustrated by Joe Baraka who is known for using digital media to tell stories.
“Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Kenya-based guest artist Joe Impressions, celebrates the 71st birthday of acclaimed Kenyan professor and author Okoth Okombo, an eminent researcher of Nilotic linguistics (from the Nile River region) who is widely considered the founder of African sign language studies,” Google’s statement read.
Duncan Okoth Okembo was born on November 8, 1950 and raised at Kaswanga village in Rusinga Island. He was a member of the Omusuba tribe.
The professor witnessed the threat of erosion of his ethnic identity as a result of the elevation of English language which pushed his mother tongue, Olusuba, to near extinction.
This inspired Okombo to embark on a mission to preserve African indigenous heritage through academia with a major focus on educating children in their native languages.
In 1983, published Masira ki Ndaki (Misfortune is Inevitable) in Dholuo, as he pursued his doctorate in Linguistics. The book is considered to be among the first novels published in a Kenyan language.
Prof Okombo founded the Kenya Sign Language (KSL) Research Project in 1991 While at the University of Nairobi and published over 30 scientific publications on the structure, vocabulary, and sociological properties of the language of deaf Kenyans.
As a result, Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) was implemented in schools, hospitals, courtrooms, churches and the media. Okombo then implemented similar projects in Uganda, Tanzania, Swaziland, and South Africa.
Okombo furthered the research and reach of indigenous African languages. Working with UNESCO and government institutions, he was involved in creating guidelines on language policy in Africa. He was also part of developing the formulation of a national language policy for Malawi.
Okombo died on November 1, 2017Â while undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital.
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