The ADLaM Writing System
Where ADLaM comes from and what makes it unique.
𞤀𞤁𞤂𞤃: The gift of the Barry brothers
Created in the late 1980s in N'Zérékoré, Guinea, ADLaM was born from the vision of Ibrahima and Abdoulaye Barry. Seeing that Fulfulde lacked a script tailored to its sounds, the young brothers spent years refining these characters.
“Alkule Dandayɗe Leñol Mulugol” — the alphabet that protects the people from vanishing.
Writing direction
ADLaM is written right to left, following the tradition of many regional scripts while introducing its own phonetic structure.
Script type
It is a true alphabet — every vowel and consonant has its own distinct character, for complete phonetic clarity.
Key features & impact
Modernizing a language for the digital age.
Empowering literacy across Guinea and the Fulani diaspora.
Keeping the Fulfulde language alive in the digital era.
Connecting millions of Fulɓe speakers through a shared identity.