The Adinkra symbol Aya, the fern, which stands for resilience and resourcefulness. Carving and photo by the author. My book Writing Beyond Writing came about because of the Adinkra symbols of Ghana. These are remarkable symbols, each of which is a kind of graphic shorthand for a proverb or piece of traditional wisdom—not a letter … Continue reading #EndangeredAlphabets: Beyond the Alphabet
#EndangeredAlphabets: Another Script Author Murdered
Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pahauh Hmong script One of the most interesting discoveries results of research by the Endangered Alphabets Project is that fully half of all scripts in use around the world today were not adopted and/or adapted from an existing script—they were invented by an individual or … Continue reading #EndangeredAlphabets: Another Script Author Murdered
#EndangeredAlphabets: Trotting Out Camels
“Save our language” in the Zaghawa language and the Beria script, in which each letter resembles a camel branding symbol. Carved by the author. Right, let’s get this month going. Let’s head out into the fascinating world of Indigenous and minority scripts. And let’s start by talking about camels. I’m trotting out camels, so to … Continue reading #EndangeredAlphabets: Trotting Out Camels
A Summary of Titles to Inspire Your #Veganuary
It may be the end of Veganuary but that doesn't mean your vegan journey needs to end here! I hope everyone that has followed along has enjoyed the posts and perhaps found some time to start reading some of these recommendations. Veganism is a social justice movement focused on achieving total liberation for non-human animals … Continue reading A Summary of Titles to Inspire Your #Veganuary
#Veganuary: In the Company of Men
by Veronique Tadjo Two boys go into the forest and kill bats to cook and eat, within a month they are dead and Ebola is moving quickly through the village. The story of Ebola is told through different voices experiencing the outbreak. Medical staff fight to stop the spread, but in order to save people, … Continue reading #Veganuary: In the Company of Men
#Veganuary: The Big Conservation Lie
by John Mbaria & Mordecai Ogada Conservation in Africa has a long and troubling history, born from a European desire to control land and wildlife to maintain their hunting habitats. The conservation industry in Africa remains one that perpetuates colonialism and has failed animals and the indigenous communities that live among them. If you care … Continue reading #Veganuary: The Big Conservation Lie
#Veganuary: Walking with Gorillas: The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet
By Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka Mountain Gorillas only remain in the wild in three countries in the world: Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I am lucky enough to live in Rwanda, where I was able to walk with some of the few remaining mountain gorillas in the wild. Thanks to teams of extremely … Continue reading #Veganuary: Walking with Gorillas: The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet
#Veganuary: Memoirs of a Porcupine
By Alain Mabanckou translated by Helen Stevenson African literature frequently draws on the experiences of animals to demonstrate inequality and injustice in society by considering the perspectives of the marginalised and overlooked. Those that are ‘animalised’ in society are used in order to demonstrate the violence that is inflicted on the oppressed, and provide a … Continue reading #Veganuary: Memoirs of a Porcupine
#Veganuary: The Postcolonial Animal: African Literature and Posthuman Ethics
The Postcolonial Animal: African Literature and Posthuman Ethics by Evan Maina Mwanga African culture is intimately connected with animals, from literature to spirituality; non-human animals are central to African beliefs and practices. Animals are featured extensively in African literature and are prominent in philosophy and political movements. But despite this, Africans are rarely featured in … Continue reading #Veganuary: The Postcolonial Animal: African Literature and Posthuman Ethics
#DegrowthLitMonth: The Divide
The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions, by Jason Hickel. Possibly the most important book I have ever read, The Divide opened my eyes up to so much history that I wasn't aware of. It's a very well written and accessible look at the history of colonization, imperialism and neo-liberalism and … Continue reading #DegrowthLitMonth: The Divide
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 