ADLaM Specimen Book

ADLaM Display

Kore Totte is a distinctive geometric motif that features prominently in the textile art of the Fulani people. The Fulani are a nomadic ethnic group that spans across many countries in West and Central Africa. They have a rich and diverse culture that expresses itself through various forms of art, music, and literature.

Today we honor the Fulani graphic culture by using the Kore Totte shape as inspiration for a new ADLaM typeface. ADLaM is a script that was invented by two brothers, Ibrahima and Abdoulaye Barry, in the late 1980s to write the Fulani language. The name ADLaM stands for Alkule Dandayɗe Leñol Mulugol, which means “the alphabet that protects the peoples from vanishing”

It’s a typeface that embraces Fulani cultural pride, with the ultimate goal of helping open the door to literacy for millions of people around the world. ADLaM is not only a writing system, but also a social movement that aims to preserve and promote the Fulani language, history, and identity.

Typeface Characteristic

ADLaM Display is a versatile typeface that combines expressiveness and readability. It’s ideal for use at big sizes, featuring a mainly round design with bold, consistent shapes and smooth curves—this font suits designs that need a strong character and a contemporary look. The letterforms are marked by large counters and low-contrast strokes that make the typeface very legible. Likewise, the asymmetry and diversity between its upper and lower case characters is a distinctive feature of this typeface.