The multilingual blog Kalamu na Wino, meaning “Pen and Ink,” is creating content around documents from Congo, written in Arabic and Ajami Swahili. Some of the oldest date back to the 1880s. The documents encompasses a wide range of materials including correspondence, treaties, contracts, books, and more, each offering unique historical insights.

Highlighting these documents challenge the myth that precolonial Congo lacked written records and reveal the rich intellectual and social networks of the time. They provide information about trade, governance, and cultural exchanges that predate European colonization. The documents are mostly written by local leaders, traders, or scholars from the Swahili Coast and Sudan.

The project is headed by Professor Xavier Luffin, a professor at the Université libre de Bruxelles of Arabic language and literature, has secured four years of funding for this research project aimed at deepening the understanding of Arabic writing in the Congo. Prof. Luffin works with an editorial and translation team. Some of the document in the archive originates from the former Belgian colonial territories in Congo.

Readers can support Kalamu na Wino by visiting the website and reading the regularly updated blog, where documents and stories are brought to life. They can also share the project with friends, educators, and cultural organizations that might find the information relevant. Those with expertise in language, history, or technology could contact the team about possibly contributing translations, insights, or technical support.

To read more about the Kalamu na Wino project, go to their website.

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Photos by Xavier Luffin, 2024 via Website