Inventing an African Alphabet
Inventing an African Alphabet
In 1978, Congolese inventor David Wabeladio Payi (1958–2013) proposed a new writing system, called Mandombe. Since then, Mandombe has grown and now has thousands of learners in not only the Democratic Republic of Congo, but also France, Angola and many other countries. Drawing upon Ramon Sarró's personal friendship with Wabeladio, this book tells the story of Wabeladio, his alphabet and the creativity that both continue to inspire. A member of the Kimbanguist church, which began as an anticolonial movement in 1921, Wabeladio and his script were deeply influenced by spirituality and Kongo culture. Combining biography, art, and religion, Sarró explores a range of ideas, from the role of pilgrimage and landscape in Wabeladio's life, to the intricacies and logic of Mandombe. Sarró situates the creative individual within a rich context of anthropological, historical and philosophical scholarship, offering a new perspective on the relationships between imagination, innovation and revelation.
- Combines biography and analysis to explore processes of cultural invention, identity formation and knowledge production in an original, engaging manner
- Employs an interdisciplinary approach, bringing creativity, religion and postcolonial history together
- Offers readers a unique and lively anthropological study, written in an accessible, expressive style
Reviews & endorsements
‘A truly fascinating book about a no less fascinating character and his inspired invention of an alphabet! Ramon Sarró explores in original ways the productive tensions between science, art and religion. In doing so, he offers us a brilliant reflection on the very process of human creativity.' Julien Bonhomme, École Normale Supérieure
‘Written with compassion, sincerity, and respect, Sarró privileges the voices of Wabeladio Payi and his Congolese interlocutors as the book deftly merges biography, reflection, and ethnography. This intriguing text will shape discussions of identity, religion, Kongo nationalism, and anthropological approaches to creativity and innovation for years to come.' Yolanda Covington-Ward, University of Pittsburgh
‘An authentic and significant work. It is ethnographically rooted, ethically correct, and scholarly tested. Sarro breathes new life into Kongo studies. The topic of this book, Mandombe, encapsulates thoughts about Kongo socio-cultural phenomena. A book for those interested in African ontology, history, and savoir-faire, particularly the Kongo.' Adrien N. Ngudiankama, President and Founder of Kongo Academy, Inc.
‘A multifaceted exploration of Kimbanguism, Kongo culture and expressions of identity, Sarro examines Wabeladio Payi's system of writing to explore human creativity and epistemology in a religious register. The evocative descriptions and lyrical prose that centre the enquiry around the relationship between Payi and Sarro make this an unusual and beautiful study.' Emma Wild-Wood, University of Edinburgh
Product details
February 2023Adobe eBook Reader
9781009199445
0 pages
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- List of figures
- List of maps
- List of Glyphs
- Acknowledgments
- Part I. Introduction:
- 1. A writing lesson (in Luanda)
- Part II. Biography:
- 2. N'kamba: the road to revelation
- 3. Kinshasa: the road to the university
- 4. The eagle and the silk-cotton tree: my road with Wabeladio
- Part III. Writing, Art, and Kongo Culture:
- 5. The road to the alphabet: the basics of Mandombe
- 6. On the Kongo road writing and entrapping culture
- 7. The road to art: the basics of Kimbanbula
- 8. A different road: reading Wabeladio's 'Method of Discovery'
- Part IV. Discussion:
- 9. How to make words with bricks: some final thoughts on creativity
- Bibliography
- Index.
