Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - AFRICAN WRITING SYSTEMS

hi gloria
i am glad you are interested in this. my sense is that patrice ngnanag
is someone you should be in touch with. he wrote the novel, but is very
well informed about njoya, the writing, etc. and there is also a film i
saw on this topic. don't have time to dig more for you, but you must
know about it already. if you can't locate it, let me know
ken

On 10/17/13 10:30 AM, Emeagwali, Gloria (History) wrote:
> Ken,
> Thanks for the information about Ngangang's book. I must have a look.
>
> I suspect that King Njoya made use of existing indigenous symbols accumulated from the ancient Africans in the region
> and did not singlehandedly invent each symbol - a cumulative project.
>
> There were about 200 symbols and he reduced them to 70 or 80.
> I put this suggestion to Mr. Njoya, one of his descendants who seemed to agree somewhat- but then maybe he was just being polite, or maybe I simply
> misinterpreted him.
>
> I did a brief interview with the said Mr. Njoya but the poor lighting led to a poor film that may never see the light of day, after all.
>
> On another note let me say that I should have referred to the twist and not the shake, in a previous posting. Professor Robert Farris Thompson of Yale University
> in a lecture entitled "Where the High Five Came from: The Art of the Kingdom of Kongo," discussed the twist not the shake. I have
> to check out whether researchers have documented the shake. Thompson also researched the Tango.
>
>
>
>
> Professor Gloria Emeagwali
>
> africahistory.net
> vimeo.com/user5946750/videos
> Documentaries on Africa and the African Diaspora
> ________________________________________
> From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of kenneth harrow [harrow@msu.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 6:43 PM
> To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - AFRICAN WRITING SYSTEMS
>
> sorry, no. just wanted to point out that nganang's book centered on the sultan njoya, who's best known for his having invented that writing system. it is, after all, an amazing story.
> ken
>
> On 10/16/13 6:04 PM, Mohamed Mbodj wrote:
> Are you referring to this thread on H-Africa instead?
>
> Mohamed Mbodj
>
> http://h-net.msu.edu/cgi-bin/logbrowse.pl?trx=vx&list=h-africa&month=9710&week=a&msg=E6dLHG1JGhrG8Dx0sJK7Fw&user=&pw=
>
> From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com<mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of kenneth harrow
> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 5:57 PM
> To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com<mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - AFRICAN WRITING SYSTEMS
>
> in french, the recent novel by patrice nganang, Mont Plaisant. focused around bamun writing of sultan njoya.
> ken
> On 10/16/13 4:34 PM, Akurang-Parry, Kwabena wrote:
>
> USA Africa Dialogue Family:
>
>
>
> Years ago, there was a topic at our esteemed forum regarding precolonial African writing systems or traditions. Any leads or concrete examples would be highly appreciated. Thanks.
>
>
>
> Kwabena
>
>
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> kenneth w. harrow
> faculty excellence advocate
> professor of english
> michigan state university
> department of english
> 619 red cedar road
> room C-614 wells hall
> east lansing, mi 48824
> ph. 517 803 8839
> harrow@msu.edu<mailto:harrow@msu.edu>
>
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--
kenneth w. harrow
faculty excellence advocate
professor of english
michigan state university
department of english
619 red cedar road
room C-614 wells hall
east lansing, mi 48824
ph. 517 803 8839
harrow@msu.edu

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