Frédéric Bruly-Bouabré

Born 1932 in Zéprégüé, Ivory Coast – Died January 28, 2014, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

The “African Champollion” always maintained that he was not the inventor of what he named the “Ivorian alphabet,” but its discoverer. To underline the alphabet’s universality and relevance, Frédéric Bruly-Bouabré gave it a practical application by using it first to transcribe traditional texts of the Bété people, then tales, poems, encyclopedia entries and French political speeches, which he transcribed in his manuscripts. Every day, Bruly wrote his thoughts on a chalkboard, which provided his numerous visitors with an initiation into this “specifically” African writing style.

Frédéric Bruly-Bouabré received one of France’s highest honors in 2002, when he became a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.