The Lala people, who are the speakers of the Lala language, form a part of South Africa’s rich tapestry of indigenous tribes. Although the language is now considered near extinction, historically, the Lala people were a distinct group that occupied parts of the coastal regions of KwaZulu-Natal. The Lala language is classified within the Tekela branch of Nguni languages, which is part of the broader Bantu language family. The Nguni languages are spoken predominantly by the Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, and Ndebele peoples, though Lala stands apart with its unique linguistic characteristics. The Lala people have historically lived alongside larger tribes such as the Zulu and Xhosa. Over time, due to…