Bamum script

Bamum

A book in the sixth Bamum script, c. 1910.

Script type Syllabary

Time c. 1896, moribund c. 1931, revived c. 2007
period
Direction Left-to-right
Languages Bamum
Related scripts
Child Bagam?
systems
ISO 15924
ISO 15924 Bamu (435), ​Bamum
Unicode
Unicode Bamum
alias
Unicode U+A6A0–U+A6FF (https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/UA6A0.pdf) Bamum
range
U+16800–U+16A3F (https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U16800.pdf) Bamum Supplement

The Bamum scripts are an evolutionary series of six scripts created for the Bamum language by Ibrahim Njoya, King
of Bamum (now western Cameroon). They are notable for evolving from a pictographic system to a semi-syllabary in
the space of fourteen years, from 1896 to 1910. Bamum type was cast in 1918, but the script fell into disuse around
1931. A project began around 2007 to revive the Bamum script.[1]

The Bamum script is also used to write the Shümom language, also invented by Njoya.[2]

History
In its initial form, Bamum script was a pictographic mnemonic aid (proto-writing) of 500 to 600 characters. As Njoya
revised the script, he introduced logograms (word symbols). The sixth version, completed by 1910, is a syllabary with
80 characters. It is also called a-ka-u-ku after its first four characters. The version in use by 1906 was called mbima.[3]
The script was further refined in 1918, when Njoya had copper sorts cast for printing. The script fell into disuse in
1931 with the exile of Njoya to Yaoundé, Cameroon.[4]

At present, Bamum script is not in any significant use. However, the Bamum Scripts and Archives Project is attempting
to modernize and revive the script. The project is based in the old Bamum capital of Foumban.[5]

Phase A
The initial form of Bamum script, called Lewa ("book"), was developed in 1896–1897. It consisted of 465 pictograms
(511 according to some sources) and 10 characters for the digits 1–10. The writing direction could be top-to-bottom,
left-to-right, or bottom-to-top. (Right-to-left was avoided because that was the direction of the Arabic script used by the
neighboring Hausa people.)

Phase B
The second system, called Mbima ("mixed"), was developed in 1899–1900. It was a simplification of the first; Njoya
omitted 72 characters but added 45 new ones. The writing direction was left-to-right in this and all subsequent phases.

Phase C
The third system, called Nyi Nyi Nfa' after its first three characters, was developed around 1902. This simplification
omitted 56 characters, leaving 371 and 10 digits. Njoya used this system to write his History of the Bamun People and
in correspondence with his mother.

Phase D
The fourth system, called Rii Nyi Nsha Mfw' after its first four characters, was developed around 1907–1908. It has
285 characters and 10 digits and is a further simplification of the previous version.

Phase E
The fifth system, called Rii Nyi Mfw' Men, was also developed around 1907–1908. It has 195 characters and 10 digits
and was used for a Bible translation. These first five systems are closely related: All were progressively simplified
pictographic protowriting with logographic elements.

Phase F
The sixth system, called A Ka U Ku after its first four characters, was developed around 1910. It has 82 characters and
10 digits. This phase marks a shift to a full syllabic writing system able to distinguish 160 syllables. It was used to
record births, marriages, deaths, and court rulings.

Phase G
The seventh and final system, called Mfemfe ("new") or A Ka U Ku Mfemfe, was developed around 1918. It has only
80 characters, ten of which double as both syllables and digits. Like the previous system, missing syllables are written
using combinations of similar syllables plus the desired vowel, or with a diacritic.

Description
The 80 glyphs of modern Bamum are not enough to represent all of the consonant-vowel syllables (C V syllables) of
the language. This deficiency is made up for with a diacritic or by combining glyphs having CV1 and V2 values, for
CV2. This makes the script alphabetic for syllables not directly covered by the syllabary. Adding the inherent vowel of
the syllable voices a consonant: tu + u = /du/, fu + u = /vu/, ju + u = /ʒu/, ja + a
= /ʒa/, ʃi + i = /ʒi/, puə + u = /bu/.

The two diacritics are a circumflex (ko'ndon) that may be added to any of the 80
glyphs, and a macron (tukwentis) that is restricted to a dozen. The circumflex
generally has the effect of adding a glottal stop to the syllable, for instance kâ is
read /kaʔ/, though the vowel is shortened and any final consonant is dropped in
the process, as in pûə /puʔ/ and kɛ̂ t /kɛʔ/. Prenasalization is also lost: ɲʃâ /ʃaʔ/,
ntê /teʔ/, ntûu /tuʔ/. Sometimes, however, the circumflex nasalizes the vowel: nî
/nɛn/, pî /pin/, rê /rɛn/, jûʔ /jun/, mɔ̂ /mɔn/, ɲʒûə /jun/ (loss of NC as with
glottal stop). Others are idiosyncratic: ɲʒə̂ m /jəm/ (simple loss of NC), tə̂ /tɔʔ/
(vowel change), ɲî /ɲe/, riê /z/, m̂ /n/, ʃɯ̂ x /jɯx/, nûə /ŋuə/, kɯ̂ x /ɣɯ/, rə̂ /rɔ/,
ŋkwə̂ n /ŋuət/, fɔ̂ m /mvɔp/, mbɛ̂ n /pɛn/, tî /tɯ/, kpâ /ŋma/, vŷ /fy/, ɣɔ̂ m
/ŋɡɔm/.[6] The Bamum syllabary, less
diacritics, digraphs, and the nʒɛmli
The macron is a 'killer stroke' that deletes the vowel from a syllable and so
forms consonants and NC clusters (/nd, ŋɡ/) that can be used for syllable
codas. Consonantal /n/ is used both as a coda and to prenasalize an initial
consonant. The two irregularities with the macron are ɲʒūə, read as /j/, and
ɔ̄ , read as /ə/.

Map of the Kingdom of Bamun in

present-day Cameroon
The script has distinctive punctuation, including a 'capitalization' mark (nʒɛmli), visually similar to an inverted
question mark, for proper names, and a decimal system of ten digits; the old glyph for ten has been refashioned as a
zero.

Modern syllabary (phase G)

Bamum syllabary (diacritics in gray)[7]

ꚠ ꚡ ꚢ ꚣ ꚤ ꚥ ꚦ ꚧ ꚨ ꚩ ꚪ ꚫ ꚬ ꚭ ꚮ ꚯ
a ka u ku e re tə ɔ nyi i la pa rii rie lee mee

ꚠ꛰ ꚡ꛰ ꚢ꛰ ꚣ꛰ ꚤ꛰ ꚥ꛰ ꚦ꛰ ꚧ꛰ ꚨ꛰ ꚩ꛰ ꚪ꛰ ꚫ꛰ ꚬ꛰ ꚭ꛰ ꚮ꛰ ꚯ꛰
aʔ kaʔ wuʔ kuʔ eʔ rɛn tɔʔ ɔʔ nye iʔ laʔ paʔ riʔ z leʔ meʔ

ꚧ꛱
ə

ꚰ ꚱ ꚲ ꚳ ꚴ ꚵ ꚶ ꚷ ꚸ ꚹ ꚺ ꚻ ꚼ ꚽ ꚾ ꚿ
taa ndaa nʒəm m suu mu ʃii si ʃɯx sɯx kye kɛt nuə nu nʒuə yɔʔ

ꚰ꛰ ꚱ꛰ ꚲ꛰ ꚳ꛰ ꚴ꛰ ꚵ꛰ ꚶ꛰ ꚷ꛰ ꚸ꛰ ꚹ꛰ ꚺ꛰ ꚻ꛰ ꚼ꛰ ꚽ꛰ ꚾ꛰ ꚿ꛰
taʔ ndaʔ yəm n suʔ muʔ ʃiʔ siʔ yɯx sɯʔ kyeʔ keʔ ŋuə nuʔ yuən yɔʔ

ꚱ꛱ ꚶ꛱ ꚷ꛱ ꚾ꛱
nd ʃ s y

ꛀ ꛁ ꛂ ꛃ ꛄ ꛅ ꛆ ꛇ ꛈ ꛉ ꛊ ꛋ ꛌ ꛍ ꛎ ꛏ
ʃu yu ya nʃa kɯx pɯx nʒe nte pü wü pe fe ru lu mi ni

ꛀ꛰ ꛁ꛰ ꛂ꛰ ꛃ꛰ ꛄ꛰ ꛅ꛰ ꛆ꛰ ꛇ꛰ ꛈ꛰ ꛉ꛰ ꛊ꛰ ꛋ꛰ ꛌ꛰ ꛍ꛰ ꛎ꛰ ꛏ꛰
ʃuʔ yun yaʔ ʃaʔ ɣɯ pɯʔ nʒeʔ teʔ püʔ üʔ peʔ feʔ ruʔ luʔ miʔ nɛn

ꛐ ꛑ ꛒ ꛓ ꛔ ꛕ ꛖ ꛗ ꛘ ꛙ ꛚ ꛛ ꛜ ꛝ ꛞ ꛟ
rɯx rə kɛn ŋkwən ŋga ŋa ʃɔ puə fu fɔm wa na li pi lɔʔ kɔ

ꛐ꛰ ꛑ꛰ ꛒ꛰ ꛓ꛰ ꛔ꛰ ꛕ꛰ ꛖ꛰ ꛗ꛰ ꛘ꛰ ꛙ꛰ ꛚ꛰ ꛛ꛰ ꛜ꛰ ꛝ꛰ ꛞ꛰ ꛟ꛰
rɯʔ rɔ kɛn ŋuət ŋgaʔ ŋaʔ ʃɔʔ puʔ fuʔ mvɔp waʔ naʔ liʔ pin lɔʔ kɔʔ

ꛔ꛱ ꛖ꛱ ꛘ꛱ ꛛ꛱ ꛜ꛱ ꛟ꛱
ŋg ʃ f n l k
 ꛠ ꛡ ꛢ ꛣ ꛤ ꛥ ꛦ ꛧ ꛨ ꛩ ꛪ ꛫ ꛬ ꛭ ꛮ ꛯ
mbɛn rɛn mɛn ma ti ki mɔ mbaa tɛt kpa tɛn ntuu sa faa vü ɣɔm
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

ꛠ꛰ ꛡ꛰ ꛢ꛰ ꛣ꛰ ꛤ꛰ ꛥ꛰ ꛦ꛰ ꛧ꛰ ꛨ꛰ ꛩ꛰ ꛪ꛰ ꛫ꛰ ꛬ꛰ ꛭ꛰ ꛮ꛰ ꛯ꛰
pɛn rɛn mɛn maʔ tɯ kiʔ mɔn mbaʔ tɛt ŋma tɛn tuʔ saʔ faʔ fü ŋgɔm

ꛤ꛱ ꛦ꛱
t m

Punctuation

Bamum punctuation[7][8]

꛲ ꛳ ꛴ ꛵ ꛶ ꛷
nʒɛmli: introduces proper names or . : , ; ?
changes the meaning of a word[6] period colon comma semicolon question mark

Numerals
The last ten base characters in the syllabary are used for both letters and numerals:[7]

Bamum digits

ꛯ ꛦ ꛧ ꛨ ꛩ ꛪ ꛫ ꛬ ꛭ ꛮ
ɣɔm
mɔ mbaa tɛt kpa tɛn ntuu sa faa vü
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Historically, ꛯ was used for ten but was changed to zero when the numeral system became a decimal one .[7]

All versions (phases A–G)

Bamum characters found through Phase A
Phase Phase Phase Phase
Interpretation Interpretation Interpretation Interpretation
A A A A

𖠀 ŋkü mfɔn 𖠒 ntɔʔpɛn 𖠤 mgbasa 𖠶 mɔɔmɯt

𖠁 gbie fɔn 𖠓 kɯkɯtnda 𖠥 mɯnʒɔmndɯʔ 𖠷 ʃum

𖠂 pɔn mfɔn pipəmgbie 𖠔 nkindi 𖠦 mɔɔmpuʔ 𖠸 lɔmmə

𖠃 pɔn mfɔn pipəmba 𖠕 suu 𖠧 kafa 𖠹 fir'i

𖠄 naa mfɔn 𖠖 ŋkünzɯm 𖠨 pa lerəwa 𖠺 rɔm

𖠅 ʃünʃüt 𖠗 lapaʔ 𖠩 nda lerəwa 𖠻 kpɔʔ

𖠆 tita mfɔn 𖠘 lɛt kut 𖠪 pɛt 𖠼 sɔʔ

𖠇 nza mfɔn 𖠙 ntap mfaa 𖠫 məmkpɛn 𖠽 map piet

𖠈 ʃinda pa nʒi 𖠚 məkɯp 𖠬 nika 𖠾 ʃirə

𖠉 pɔn pa nʒi pipəmgbie 𖠛 paʃə 𖠭 pup 𖠿 ntap

𖠊 pɔn pa nʒi pipəmba 𖠜 ɣɯərə 𖠮 tuəp 𖡀 ʃɔʔ nʃut yum

𖠋 məmgbie 𖠝 pamʃə 𖠯 luəp 𖡁 nyit mɔŋkɯəʔ

𖠌 tu məmba 𖠞 mɔn ŋgɯət 𖠰 sɔnʒam 𖡂 paarə

𖠍 ŋaŋu 𖠟 nzun mɯt 𖠱 tɯtɯwɛn 𖡃 nkaarə

𖠎 məmvɯx 𖠠 u yuʔ nə 𖠲 mənyi 𖡄 (unknown)

𖠏 mansuə 𖠡 ɣɯəɣɯə 𖠳 kɛt

𖠐 mvɯəŋam 𖠢 ntap ntaa 𖠴 ndaaŋgɯət

𖠑 sɯnyam 𖠣 sisa 𖠵 kuɔʔ

A Interpretation A Interpretation A Interpretation A Interpretation

 Bamum characters found through Phase B
Phase Phase Phase
Interpretation Interpretation Interpretation
A B A B A B

𖡗 𖡗 nʃüt 𖡨 𖡨 tu nsie 𖡹 𖡹 mɯʔ

𖡘 𖡘 tu məmgbie 𖡩 𖡩 ʃɛt nʒaʔ 𖡺 𖡺 ŋguɔʔ ("small termite")

𖡙 𖡙 sie 𖡪 𖡪 ʃɯəʔtu 𖡻 𖡻 ŋguɔʔ ("large termite")

𖡚 𖡚 sɛt tu 𖡫 𖡫 mfɔn tɯəʔ 𖡼 mfiyaʔ

𖡛 𖡛 lɔm ntɯm 𖡬 mbit mbaakɛt 𖡽 𖡽 sü

𖡜 𖡜 mba məle 𖡭 𖡭 nyi ntɯm 𖡾 𖡾 mbɯri

𖡝 𖡝 kiem 𖡮 kɯpuʔ 𖡿 𖡿 mɔntien

𖡞 𖡞 yɯrə 𖡯 𖡯 ɣɯɣɛn 𖢀 𖢀 nyəmə

𖡟 𖡟 mbaarə 𖡰 𖡰 kɯyɯx 𖢁 𖢁 puŋaam

𖡠 𖡠 kam 𖡱 𖡱 laanə 𖢂 𖢂 mɯt ŋget

𖡡 𖡡 peʃi 𖡲 𖡲 parum 𖢃 𖢃 fɯx

𖡢 𖡢 yafu lerəwa 𖡳 𖡳 vɯm 𖢄 𖢄 mbuɔʔ

𖡣 𖡣 lam nʃut nyam 𖡴 𖡴 ŋkindi mvɔp 𖢅 𖢅 fe

𖡤 𖡤 ntie ʃɯɔʔ 𖡵 𖡵 ŋgɯ mbu 𖢆 kɯəm

𖡥 𖡥 ndu nʒaa 𖡶 𖡶 wuət 𖢇 𖢇 ma nʒɯəna

𖡦 𖡦 ɣɯɣɯəm 𖢈 𖢈 ma nʒuʔa 𖡷 𖡷 sakɯə

𖡧 𖡧 pit 𖡸 𖡸 taam

A B Interpretation A B Interpretation A B Interpretation

 Bamum characters found through Phase C
Phase Phase Phase
Interpretation Interpretation Interpretation
A B C A B C A B C

𖢏 𖢏 𖢏 ŋkü məmba 𖢫 𖢫 𖢫 ndida 𖣇 𖣇 𖣇 nsuɔt ŋɔm

𖢐 𖢐 𖢐 nza 𖢬 𖢬 𖢬 taaʃə 𖣈 𖣈 𖣈 nʒee

𖢑 𖢑 𖢑 yum 𖢭 𖢭 𖢭 nʒüʔ 𖣉 𖣉 𖣉 kɛt

𖢒 𖢒 𖢒 waŋkuɔʔ 𖢮 𖢮 𖢮 tita yü 𖣊 𖣊 𖣊 ŋgu

𖡅 𖢓 𖢓 ŋgɛn 𖢯 𖢯 𖢯 suət 𖡆 𖣋 𖣋 məsi

𖢔 𖢔 𖢔 ndɯəre 𖢰 𖢰 𖢰 ŋguən nyam 𖣌 𖣌 mbuəm

𖢕 𖢕 𖢕 ŋkaʔ 𖢱 𖢱 𖢱 vɯx 𖣍 𖣍 𖣍 lu

𖢖 𖢖 𖢖 ɣarə 𖢲 𖢲 𖢲 nansanaʔ 𖣎 𖣎 𖣎 kut

𖢗 𖢗 𖢗 mbeket 𖢳 𖢳 𖢳 ma kɯəri 𖡇 𖣏 𖣏 nʒam

𖢘 𖢘 𖢘 gbayi 𖢴 𖢴 𖢴 ntaa 𖣐 𖣐 𖣐 ŋɔm

𖢙 𖢙 𖢙 nyir mkparaʔ mɯn 𖢵 𖢵 𖢵 ŋguɔn 𖣑 𖣑 𖣑 wup

𖢚 𖢚 𖢚 ntu mbit 𖢶 𖢶 𖢶 lap 𖣒 𖣒 𖣒 ŋguet

𖢛 𖢛 𖢛 mbɯm 𖢷 𖢷 𖢷 mbirien 𖣓 𖣓 𖣓 nsɔm

𖢜 𖢜 𖢜 pirien 𖢸 𖢸 𖢸 mgbasaʔ 𖣔 𖣔 𖣔 ntɛn

𖢝 𖢝 𖢝 ndɔmbu 𖢹 𖢹 𖢹 ntɯngba 𖣕 𖣕 𖣕 kuɔp nkaarə

𖢞 𖢞 𖢞 mbaa 𖢺 𖢺 𖢺 tɯtɯx 𖣖 𖣖 𖣖 nsun

𖢟 𖢟 𖢟 kɯʃɯəp 𖢻 𖢻 𖢻 ŋgum 𖣗 𖣗 𖣗 ndam

𖢠 𖢠 𖢠 ɣap 𖢼 𖢼 𖢼 fü 𖣘 𖣘 𖣘 ma nsie

𖢡 𖢡 𖢡 kɯkaʔ 𖢽 𖢽 𖢽 ndɯt 𖣙 𖣙 𖣙 yaa

𖢢 𖢢 𖢢 yu muɔmə 𖢾 𖢾 𖢾 nsa 𖣚 𖣚 ndap

𖢣 𖢣 𖢣 nzɯm 𖢿 𖢿 𖢿 nʃaʔ 𖣛 𖣛 𖣛 ʃüʔ

𖢤 𖢤 𖢤 mbü 𖣀 𖣀 𖣀 buŋ 𖣜 𖣜 𖣜 ʃɛtfɔn

𖢥 𖢥 𖢥 nsɯən 𖣁 𖣁 𖣁 vɯəpɛn 𖣝 𖣝 mbi

𖢦 𖢦 𖢦 mbit 𖣂 𖣂 𖣂 mbɛrə 𖣞 𖣞 𖣞 məmba

𖢧 𖢧 𖢧 yɯʔ 𖣃 𖣃 𖣃 ru 𖡈 𖣟 𖣟 mbanyi

𖢨 𖢨 𖢨 kparaʔ 𖣄 𖣄 𖣄 nʒəm 𖣠 𖣠 𖣠 kɯsɯx

𖢩 𖢩 𖢩 kaa 𖣅 𖣅 𖣅 lam 𖣡 𖣡 mbɯx

𖢪 𖢪 𖢪 sɯx 𖣆 𖣆 𖣆 tituəp 𖣢 𖣢 kɯm

A B C Interpretation A B C Interpretation A B C Interpretation

 Bamum characters found through Phase D
Phase Phase
Interpretation Interpretation
A B C D A B C D

𖣱 𖣱 𖣱 𖣱 mbuɔ 𖤝 𖤝 𖤝 𖤝 mfo

𖣲 𖣲 𖣲 𖣲 wap 𖤞 𖤞 𖤞 lum

𖣳 𖣳 𖣳 𖣳 nʒi 𖤟 𖤟 𖤟 𖤟 nsiep

𖣴 𖣴 𖣴 𖣴 mfɔn 𖣣 𖣣 𖣣 𖤠 mbaa

𖣵 𖣵 𖣵 𖣵 nʒie 𖤡 𖤡 𖤡 𖤡 kwət

𖣶 𖣶 𖣶 𖣶 lie 𖡉 𖤢 𖤢 𖤢 nyɛt

𖣷 𖣷 𖣷 nʒɯt 𖡊 𖤣 tɯən

𖣸 𖣸 𖣸 nʃe 𖡋 𖤤 𖤤 𖤤 sɔt

𖣹 𖣹 𖣹 𖣹 ŋgaamə 𖣤 𖣤 𖣤 𖤥 yuwɔʔ

𖣺 𖣺 𖣺 𖣺 nyam 𖤦 𖤦 𖤦 𖤦 kɯm

𖣻 𖣻 𖣻 𖣻 wuən 𖤧 𖤧 𖤧 𖤧 rəm

𖣼 𖣼 𖣼 𖣼 ŋkun 𖤨 𖤨 𖤨 𖤨 tee

𖣽 𖣽 𖣽 𖣽 ʃe 𖤩 𖤩 𖤩 𖤩 ŋkɯəʔ

𖣾 𖣾 𖣾 𖣾 ŋkap 𖤪 𖤪 𖤪 𖤪 mfɯə

𖣿 𖣿 𖣿 𖣿 kɯətmɯn 𖤫 𖤫 𖤫 𖤫 nsiet

𖤀 𖤀 𖤀 tɯt 𖤬 𖤬 𖤬 𖤬 kɯp

𖤁 𖤁 𖤁 𖤁 ʃɯə 𖤭 𖤭 𖤭 𖤭 pip

𖤂 𖤂 𖤂 𖤂 nʒap 𖤮 𖤮 𖤮 𖤮 pɯtə

𖤃 𖤃 𖤃 𖤃 sü 𖤯 𖤯 𖤯 𖤯 nyü

𖤄 𖤄 𖤄 𖤄 kɛt 𖢉 𖢉 𖤰 𖤰 lɛt

𖤅 𖤅 𖤅 yəmmə 𖢊 𖤱 𖤱 ŋgaam

𖤆 𖤆 𖤆 kuɔm 𖤲 𖤲 𖤲 𖤲 mfie

𖤇 𖤇 𖤇 𖤇 sap 𖤳 𖤳 𖤳 ŋgwən

𖤈 𖤈 𖤈 𖤈 mfɯt 𖤴 𖤴 𖤴 yuɔm

𖤉 𖤉 𖤉 𖤉 ndɯx 𖤵 𖤵 𖤵 pap

𖤊 𖤊 𖤊 𖤊 maleri 𖤶 𖤶 𖤶 𖤶 yuɔp

𖤋 𖤋 𖤋 𖤋 mɯt 𖤷 𖤷 𖤷 𖤷 ndam

𖤌 𖤌 𖤌 𖤌 sɯəʔ 𖤸 𖤸 𖤸 𖤸 ntɯm

𖤍 𖤍 𖤍 𖤍 yɛn 𖤹 𖤹 𖤹 𖤹 suə

𖤎 𖤎 𖤎 𖤎 nʒɯəm 𖤺 𖤺 𖤺 𖤺 kun

𖤏 𖤏 𖤏 𖤏 kɯɔt mbuə 𖤻 𖤻 𖤻 𖤻 ŋgɯx

𖤐 𖤐 𖤐 𖤐 ŋkɯri 𖤼 𖤼 𖤼 𖤼 ŋkie

𖤑 𖤑 𖤑 tu 𖤽 𖤽 𖤽 𖤽 tuɔt

𖤒 𖤒 𖤒 𖤒 ɣaa 𖤾 𖤾 𖤾 𖤾 mɯn

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓 𖤓 ŋkye 𖤿 𖤿 𖤿 kuʔ
𖤔 𖤔 𖤔 𖤔 fɯfɯət 𖥀 𖥀 𖥀 nsum

𖤕 𖤕 𖤕 𖤕 nde 𖥁 𖥁 𖥁 𖥁 tɯn

𖤖 𖤖 𖤖 𖤖 mgbɔfum 𖥂 𖥂 𖥂 𖥂 mənʒɛt

𖤗 𖤗 𖤗 lɯəp 𖥃 𖥃 𖥃 𖥃 ŋgap

𖤘 𖤘 𖤘 𖤘 ndɔn 𖥄 𖥄 𖥄 lɯm

𖤙 𖤙 𖤙 𖤙 mɔni 𖥅 𖥅 𖥅 𖥅 ŋguɔm

𖤚 𖤚 𖤚 mgbɯn 𖥆 𖥆 𖥆 𖥆 nʃut

𖤛 𖤛 𖤛 𖤛 puut 𖥇 𖥇 𖥇 𖥇 nʒüʔ

𖤜 𖤜 𖤜 𖤜 mgbie

A B C D Interpretation A B C D Interpretation
 Bamum characters found through Phase E
Phase Phase
Interpretation Interpretation
A B C D E A B C D E

𖥦 𖥦 𖥦 𖥦 𖥦 ndap 𖦝 𖦝 𖦝 𖦝 𖦝 vɯə

𖥧 𖥧 𖥧 𖥧 𖥧 tɔɔn 𖦞 𖦞 𖦞 𖦞 𖦞 wɯx

𖥨 𖥨 𖥨 𖥨 𖥨 mbɯm 𖦟 𖦟 𖦟 𖦟 𖦟 laam

𖥩 𖥩 𖥩 𖥩 𖥩 lap 𖦠 𖦠 𖦠 𖦠 𖦠 pu

𖥪 𖥪 𖥪 𖥪 𖥪 vɔm 𖦡 𖦡 𖦡 𖦡 𖦡 taaʔ

𖥫 𖥫 𖥫 𖥫 𖥫 lɔn 𖦢 𖦢 𖦢 𖦢 𖦢 ɣaamə

𖥬 𖥬 𖥬 𖥬 𖥬 paa 𖦣 𖦣 𖦣 𖦣 ŋɯrɯt

𖥭 𖥭 𖥭 𖥭 𖥭 sɔm 𖦤 𖦤 𖦤 𖦤 𖦤 ʃɯəʔ

𖥮 𖥮 𖥮 𖥮 𖥮 raʔ 𖦥 𖦥 𖦥 𖦥 𖦥 mgbɛn

𖥯 𖥯 𖥯 𖥯 𖥯 nʃuɔp 𖦦 𖦦 𖦦 𖦦 mbe

𖥰 𖥰 𖥰 𖥰 𖥰 ndun 𖦧 𖦧 𖦧 𖦧 𖦧 nzaʔ

𖥱 𖥱 𖥱 𖥱 𖥱 puə 𖦨 𖦨 𖦨 𖦨 𖦨 nkɔm

𖥲 𖥲 𖥲 𖥲 𖥲 tam 𖦩 𖦩 𖦩 𖦩 𖦩 gbɛt

𖥳 𖥳 𖥳 𖥳 𖥳 ŋka 𖦪 𖦪 𖦪 𖦪 𖦪 tum

𖥴 𖥴 𖥴 𖥴 𖥴 kpɯx 𖦫 𖦫 𖦫 𖦫 𖦫 küt

𖥵 𖥵 𖥵 𖥵 𖥵 wuɔ 𖦬 𖦬 𖦬 𖦬 yap

𖥶 𖥶 𖥶 𖥶 se 𖡏 𖦭 𖦭 𖦭 𖦭 nyi

𖥷 𖥷 𖥷 𖥷 𖥷 ŋgɯət 𖦮 𖦮 𖦮 𖦮 𖦮 yit

𖡌 𖥸 𖥸 𖥸 𖥸 paam 𖦯 𖦯 𖦯 𖦯 mfɯʔ

𖥹 𖥹 𖥹 𖥹 𖥹 tɔɔ 𖦰 𖦰 𖦰 𖦰 𖦰 ndiaʔ

𖥺 𖥺 𖥺 𖥺 𖥺 kuɔp 𖦱 𖦱 𖦱 𖦱 𖦱 pieʔ

𖥻 𖥻 𖥻 𖥻 𖥻 lɔm 𖦲 𖦲 𖦲 𖦲 𖦲 yüʔ

𖡍 𖥼 𖥼 𖥼 𖥼 nʃie 𖦳 𖦳 𖦳 𖦳 𖦳 lɯəm

𖥽 𖥽 𖥽 𖥽 𖥽 ŋgɔp 𖦴 𖦴 𖦴 𖦴 𖦴 fü

𖡎 𖥾 𖥾 𖥾 𖥾 məm 𖦵 𖦵 𖦵 𖦵 𖦵 gbɯx

𖥿 𖥿 𖥿 𖥿 𖥿 ŋkɯx 𖦶 𖦶 𖦶 𖦶 𖦶 ŋkup

𖦀 𖦀 𖦀 𖦀 𖦀 ŋɔʔ 𖦷 𖦷 𖦷 𖦷 𖦷 kɛt

𖦁 𖦁 𖦁 𖦁 𖦁 nʃü 𖦸 𖦸 𖦸 𖦸 𖦸 mə

𖦂 𖦂 𖦂 𖦂 𖦂 rimgba 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 𖦹 ŋkaami

𖣥 𖣥 𖣥 𖦃 𖦃 nʒɯx 𖦺 𖦺 𖦺 𖦺 𖦺 ɣɛt

𖢋 𖢋 𖡲 𖡲 𖡲 nsɛn 𖦻 𖦻 𖦻 𖦻 𖦻 fa

𖦄 𖦄 𖦄 𖦄 𖦄 pem 𖦼 𖦼 𖦼 𖦼 𖦼 ntum

𖦅 𖦅 𖦅 𖦅 𖦅 saa 𖦽 𖦽 𖦽 𖦽 𖦽 pɯt

𖦆 𖦆 𖦆 𖦆 𖦆 ŋgurə 𖦾 𖦾 𖦾 𖦾 𖦾 yɯm

𖦇 𖦇 𖦇 𖦇 𖦇 mgba 𖦿 𖦿 𖦿 𖦿 𖦿 ŋgɯə
𖦈 𖦈 𖦈 𖦈 𖦈 ɣɯx 𖧀 𖧀 𖧀 𖧀 𖧀 nyi

𖦉 𖦉 𖦉 𖦉 𖦉 ŋkɯəm 𖧁 𖧁 𖧁 𖧁 𖧁 nzuʔ

𖦊 𖦊 𖦊 𖦊 𖦊 nʒəmli 𖧂 𖧂 𖧂 𖧂 𖧂 pɔɔn

𖦋 𖦋 𖦋 𖦋 𖦋 map 𖣦 𖣦 𖣦 𖧃 𖧃 mie

𖦌 𖦌 𖦌 𖦌 𖦌 lɔɔt 𖧄 𖧄 𖧄 𖧄 𖧄 füt

𖦍 𖦍 ŋgee 𖧅 𖧅 𖧅 𖧅 𖧅 nə

𖦎 𖦎 𖦎 𖦎 𖦎 ndiʔ 𖣧 𖣧 𖣧 𖧆 𖧆 muə

𖦏 𖦏 𖦏 𖦏 𖦏 tən ntɯm 𖥈 𖥈 𖥈 𖥈 𖧇 ɣɯə

𖦐 𖦐 𖦐 𖦐 𖦐 sɛt 𖧈 𖧈 𖧈 𖧈 𖧈 fu i

𖦑 𖦑 𖦑 𖦑 𖦑 pum 𖧉 𖧉 𖧉 𖧉 𖧉 mvi

𖦒 𖦒 ndaa 𖧊 𖧊 𖧊 𖧊 𖧊 puaʔ

𖦓 𖦓 𖦓 𖦓 𖦓 ŋguəʃə nyam 𖧋 𖧋 𖧋 ŋkum

𖦔 𖦔 𖦔 𖦔 𖦔 yie 𖧌 𖧌 𖧌 𖧌 kut

𖦕 𖦕 𖦕 𖦕 𖦕 ɣɯn 𖧍 𖧍 𖧍 𖧍 𖧍 piɛt

𖦖 𖦖 𖦖 𖦖 𖦖 tuə 𖧎 𖧎 𖧎 𖧎 𖧎 ntap

𖦗 𖦗 𖦗 𖦗 𖦗 yɯə 𖧏 𖧏 𖧏 𖧏 𖧏 yɯət

𖦘 𖦘 𖦘 𖦘 𖦘 pɔ 𖧐 𖧐 𖧐 𖧐 𖧐 ŋgup

𖦙 𖦙 𖦙 𖦙 𖦙 tumə 𖧑 𖧑 𖧑 𖧑 𖧑 pa

𖦚 𖦚 𖦚 𖦚 𖦚 kɯə 𖧒 fu

𖦛 𖦛 𖦛 𖦛 suən 𖧓 𖧓 𖧓 𖧓 fɔm

𖦜 𖦜 𖦜 𖦜 𖦜 tɯəʔ 𖧔 nʒe

A B C D E Interpretation A B C D E Interpretation
 Bamum characters found through Phase G
(phases C–E are often graphically simplified from the forms displayed here)
Phase Phase
Interpretation Interpretation
A B C D E F G A B C D E F G

𖧕 𖧕 𖧕 𖧕 𖧕 𖧇 ꚠ a 𖧪 𖧪 𖧪 𖧪 𖧪 𖨡 ꛉ wü

ꚠ꛰ ꚠ꛰ a 𖨡꛰ ꛉ꛰ üʔ

𖨃 𖨃 𖨃 𖨃 𖨃 𖨃 ꚡ ka 𖥚 𖥚 𖥚 𖥚 𖨢 𖨢 ꛊ pe

𖡐 𖨃꛰ ꚡ꛰ kaʔ 𖨢꛰ ꛊ꛰ peʔ

𖨄 𖨄 𖨄 𖨄 𖨄 𖨄 ꚢ u 𖧫 𖧫 𖧫 𖧫 𖧫 𖦓 ꛋ fe

𖨄꛰ ꚢ꛰ wuʔ 𖡒 𖧬 𖧬 𖧬 𖧬 ve

𖥉 𖥉 𖥉 𖥉 𖨅 𖨅 ꚣ ku 𖦓꛰ ꛋ꛰ feʔ

𖨅꛰ ꚣ꛰ kuʔ

𖨆 𖨆 𖨆 𖨆 𖨆 𖨆 ꚤ e 𖨣 𖨣 𖨣 𖨣 𖨣 𖨣 ꛌ ru

𖨆꛰ ꚤ꛰ eʔ 𖨣꛰ ꛌ꛰ ruʔ

𖨇 𖨇 𖨇 𖨇 𖨇 ꚥ re 𖡓 𖧭 𖧭 𖧭 𖧭 𖧂? ꛍ lu

𖥊 𖥊 𖥊 𖥊 𖨇꛰ ꚥ꛰ rɛn ꛍ꛰ ꛍ꛰ luʔ

𖥋 𖥋 𖥋 𖥋 𖨈 ꚦ tə 𖧮 𖧮 𖧮 𖧮 𖧮 ꛎ ꛎ mi

𖥌 𖥌 𖥌 𖥌 𖧖 𖨈꛰ ꚦ꛰ tɔʔ ꛎ꛰ ꛎ꛰ miʔ

𖧗 𖧗 𖧗 𖧗 𖧗 𖦑 ꚧ ɔ 𖥛 𖥛 𖥛 𖥛 𖨤 𖨤 ꛏ n'i

𖦑꛰ ꚧ꛰ ɔʔ 𖡔 𖨤꛰ ꛏ꛰ nɛn

𖥍 𖥍 𖥍 𖥍 𖧀 𖨉 ꚨ nyi 𖧯 𖧯 𖧯 𖧯 𖧯 𖨥 ꛐ rɯx

𖨉꛰ ꚨ꛰ nye 𖨥꛰ ꛐ꛰ rɯʔ

𖧘 𖧘 𖧘 𖧘 𖧘 𖥦 ꚩ i 𖧰 𖧰 𖧰 𖧰 𖧰 𖥱 ꛑ rə

𖥦꛰ ꚩ꛰ iʔ 𖥱꛰ ꛑ꛰ rɔ

𖨊 ꚪ la 𖣩 𖣩 𖣩 𖨦 𖨦 𖨦 ꛒ kɛn

𖧙 𖧙 𖧙 𖧙 𖧙 𖨊꛰ ꚪ꛰ laʔ 𖣪 𖣪 𖣪 𖨦꛰ ꛒ꛰ kɛn (with high tone)

𖧚 𖧚 𖧚 𖧚 𖧚 𖥯 ꚫ pa 𖨧 𖨧 𖨧 𖨧 ꛓ ŋkwən

𖥯꛰ ꚫ꛰ paʔ 𖧱 𖧱 𖧱 𖧱 𖧱 𖨧꛰ ꛓ꛰ ŋuət

𖥎 𖥎 𖥎 𖥎 𖨋 𖨋 ꚬ rii 𖨨 𖨨 𖨨 𖨨 𖨨 𖨨 ꛔ ŋga

𖨋꛰ ꚬ꛰ riʔ 𖨨꛰ ꛔ꛰ ŋgaʔ

𖨌 𖨌 𖨌 𖨌 𖨌 𖨌 ꚭ rie 𖧲 𖧲 𖧲 𖧲 𖧲 𖥮 ꛕ ŋa

𖨌꛰ ꚭ꛰ z 𖣫 𖣫 𖣫 𖥮꛰ ꛕ꛰ ŋaʔ

𖥏 𖥏 𖥏 𖥏 𖤰 𖤰 ꚮ lee 𖧳 𖧳 𖧳 𖨩 ꛖ ʃɔ

𖤰꛰ ꚮ꛰ leʔ 𖥜 𖥜 𖥜 𖥜 𖧴 𖨩꛰ ꛖ꛰ ʃɔʔ

𖥐 𖥐 𖥐 𖥐 𖨍 𖨍 ꚯ mee 𖨪 𖨪 𖨪 𖨪 𖨪 𖨪 ꛗ puə

𖥐 𖨍꛰ ꚯ꛰ meʔ 𖥝 𖥝 𖥝 𖥝 𖦠 𖨪꛰ ꛗ꛰ puʔ

𖧛 𖧛 𖧛 𖧛 𖧛 𖨎 ꚰ taa 𖧵 𖧵 𖧵 𖧵 𖧵 𖧒 ꛘ fu

𖧜 𖧜 𖧜 𖧜 𖧜 𖨎꛰ ꚰ꛰ taʔ 𖧒꛰ ꛘ꛰ fuʔ
𖧝 𖧝 𖧝 𖧝 𖧝 𖨏 ꚱ ndaa 𖨫 𖨫 ꛙ fɔm

𖨏꛰ ꚱ꛰ ndaʔ 𖥞 𖥞 𖥞 𖥞 𖨫꛰ ꛙ꛰ mvɔp

𖨐 𖨐 𖨐 𖨐 𖨐 𖨐 ꚲ nʒəm 𖨬 𖨬 𖨬 𖨬 𖨬 ꛚ wa

𖨐꛰ ꚲ꛰ yəm 𖨬꛰ ꛚ꛰ waʔ

𖥑 𖥑 𖥑 𖥑 𖨑 𖨑 ꚳ m 𖧶 𖧶 𖧶 𖧶 𖧶 𖥭 ꛛ na

𖨑 ꚳ꛰ n 𖡕 𖣬 𖣬 ꛛ꛰ ꛛ꛰ naʔ

𖥒 𖥒 𖥒 𖥒 𖨒 𖨒 ꚴ suu 𖨭 𖨭 𖨭 𖨭 𖨭 𖨭 ꛜ li

𖨒꛰ ꚴ꛰ suʔ 𖣭 𖣭 𖣭 𖨭꛰ ꛜ꛰ liʔ

𖥓 𖥓 𖥓 𖥓 𖤱 𖤱 ꚵ mu 𖧷 𖧷 𖧷 𖧷 𖧷 𖧡 ꛝ pi

𖤱꛰ ꚵ꛰ muʔ 𖣮 𖣮 𖣮 𖧡꛰ ꛝ꛰ pin

𖥔 𖥔 𖥔 𖥔 𖨓 𖨓 ꚶ ʃii 𖥟 𖥟 𖥟 𖥟 𖨮 𖨮 ꛞ lɔʔ

𖣨 𖣨 𖣨 𖧞 𖧞 𖨓꛰ ꚶ꛰ ʃiʔ 𖧸 𖧸 𖧸 𖧸 𖧸 𖨮꛰ ꛞ꛰ lɔʔ

𖨔 𖨔 𖨔 𖨔 𖨔 𖨔 ꚷ si 𖧹 𖧹 𖧹 𖧹 𖨯 ꛟ kɔ

𖨔꛰ ꚷ꛰ siʔ 𖨯꛰ ꛟ꛰ kɔʔ

𖥕 𖥕 𖥕 𖥕 𖧁 ꚸ ʃɯx 𖨰 𖨰 𖨰 𖨰 𖨰 𖨰 ꛠ mbɛn

𖧟 𖧟 𖧟 𖧟 𖧟 ꚸ꛰ ꚸ꛰ yɯx 𖣯 𖣯 𖣗 𖨰꛰ ꛠ꛰ pɛn

𖨕 𖨕 𖨕 𖨕 𖨕 𖨕 ꚹ sɯx 𖥠 𖥠 𖥠 𖥠 𖨱 𖨱 ꛡ rɛn

𖨕꛰ ꚹ꛰ sɯʔ 𖨱꛰ ꛡ꛰ rɛn

𖥖 𖥖 𖥖 𖥖 𖨖 𖨖 ꚺ kye 𖧺 𖧺 𖧺 𖧺 𖧺 𖥩 ꛢ mɛn

𖨖꛰ ꚺ꛰ kyeʔ 𖥩꛰ ꛢ꛰ mɛn

𖨗 𖨗 𖨗 𖨗 𖨗 𖨗 ꚻ kɛt 𖢌 𖧻 𖧻 𖧻 𖨲 ꛣ ma

𖨗꛰ ꚻ꛰ keʔ 𖧼 𖧼 𖧼 𖧼 𖧼 𖨲꛰ ꛣ꛰ maʔ

𖨘 𖨘 𖨘 𖨘 𖨘 𖨘 ꚼ nuə 𖥡 𖥡 𖥡 𖥡 𖣻 𖣻 ꛤ ti

𖧠 𖧠 𖧠 𖧠 𖧠 𖨘꛰ ꚼ꛰ ŋuə 𖧽 𖧽 𖧽 𖧽 𖧽 𖣻꛰ ꛤ꛰ tɯ

𖥗 𖥗 𖥗 𖨙 𖨙 ꚽ nu 𖧾 𖧾 𖧾 𖧾 𖧾 ꛥ ꛥ ki

𖨙 ꚽ꛰ nuʔ 𖢍 𖢍 ꛥ꛰ ꛥ꛰ kiʔ

𖨚 𖨚 𖨚 𖨚 𖨚 𖨚 ꚾ nʒuə 𖨳 𖨳 𖨳 𖨳 𖨳 𖨳 ꛦ mɔ

𖧡 𖧡 𖧡 𖧡 𖧡 𖨚꛰ ꚾ꛰ yuən 𖧿 𖧿 𖧿 𖨳꛰ ꛦ꛰ mɔn

𖧢 𖧢 𖧢 𖧢 𖨛 ꚿ yɔʔ ("swimming") 𖨴 𖨴 𖨴 𖨴 𖨴 𖨴 ꛧ mbaa

𖧣 𖧣 𖧣 𖧣 𖧣 𖨛꛰ ꚿ꛰ yɔʔ ("cover") 𖡖 𖨴꛰ ꛧ꛰ mbaʔ

𖥘 𖥘 𖥘 𖥘 𖨜 𖨜 ꛀ ʃu 𖨵 𖨵 𖨵 𖨵 𖨵 𖨵 ꛨ tɛt

𖨜꛰ ꛀ꛰ ʃuʔ 𖣰 𖣰 𖨵꛰ ꛨ꛰ tɛt (with high tone)

𖧤 𖧤 𖧤 𖧤 𖧤 ꛁ ꛁ yuʔ 𖨶 𖨶 𖨶 𖨶 𖨶 𖨶 ꛩ kpa

𖧥 𖧥 𖧥 𖧥 𖧥 ꛁ꛰ ꛁ꛰ yun 𖨶꛰ ꛩ꛰ ŋma

𖨝 𖨝 𖨝 𖨝 𖨝 𖨝 ꛂ ya 𖨀 𖨀 𖨀 𖨀 𖨀 𖦨 ꛪ tɛn

𖨝꛰ ꛂ꛰ yaʔ 𖦨꛰ ꛪ꛰ tɛn

𖡑 𖨞 𖨞 𖨞 𖨞 𖨞 ꛃ nʃa 𖥢 𖥢 𖥢 𖥢 𖥣 𖥣 ꛫ ntuu

𖨞꛰ ꛃ꛰ ʃaʔ 𖥣꛰ ꛫ꛰ tuʔ
 𖧦 𖧦 𖧦 𖧦 𖧳 ꛄ kɯx 𖦅𖥣 𖦅𖥣 𖦅𖥣 𖦅𖥣 𖨷 𖨷 ꛬ samba

𖧳꛰ ꛄ꛰ ɣɯ 𖥤 𖥤 𖥤 𖥤 𖨷꛰ ꛬ꛰ saʔ

𖧧 𖧧 𖧧 𖧧 𖧧 𖨟 ꛅ pɯx 𖥥𖦸 𖥥𖦸 𖥥𖦸 𖥥𖦸 ꛭ 𖤩 ꛭ faamə

𖨟꛰ ꛅ꛰ pɯʔ 𖨁 𖨁 𖨁 𖨁 𖨁 𖤩꛰ ꛭ꛰ faʔ

𖧨 𖧨 𖧨 𖧨 𖧨 𖧔 ꛆ nʒe 𖧹𖨸 𖧹𖨸 𖧹𖨸 𖧹𖨸 𖨸 𖨸 ꛮ kɔvü

𖧔꛰ ꛆ꛰ nʒeʔ 𖨸꛰ ꛮ꛰ fü

𖥙 𖥙 𖥙 𖥙 𖨠 𖨠 ꛇ nte 𖧹𖨂 𖧹𖨂 𖧹𖨂 𖧹𖨂 𖨂 𖧾 ꛯ ɣɔm

𖨠꛰ ꛇ꛰ teʔ 𖢎 𖢎 𖧾꛰ ꛯ꛰ ŋgɔm

𖧩 𖧩 𖧩 𖧩 𖧩 𖥰 ꛈ pü

𖥰꛰ ꛈ꛰ püʔ

A B C D E F G Interpretation A B C D E F G Interpretation

Unicode
Bamum's 88 characters were added to the Unicode standard in October, 2009 with the release of version 5.2. Bamum
Unicode character names are based on the International Phonetic Alphabet forms given in L’écriture des Bamum
(1950) by Idelette Dugast and M.D.W. Jeffreys:[7]

Usage Letters

Dugast & Jeffreys a b d ɛ e ǝ f ɣ g i k l m n ŋ ɔ

Unicode name A B D EE EA E F GH G I K L M N NG O

French a b d è é e f gh g i k l m n ng o

Dugast & Jeffreys p r s ʃ t u ü ɯ v w x y z ʒ ʔ

Unicode name P R S SH T U UE EU V W X Y Z J Q
French p r s sh t u ü ù v w x y z j ’

The Unicode block for Bamum is U+A6A0–U+A6FF:

 Bamum[1][2]
Official Unicode Consortium code chart (https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/UA6A0.pdf) (PDF)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F

U+A6Ax ꚠ ꚡ ꚢ ꚣ ꚤ ꚥ ꚦ ꚧ ꚨ ꚩ ꚪ ꚫ ꚬ ꚭ ꚮ ꚯ

U+A6Bx ꚰ ꚱ ꚲ ꚳ ꚴ ꚵ ꚶ ꚷ ꚸ ꚹ ꚺ ꚻ ꚼ ꚽ ꚾ ꚿ

U+A6Cx ꛀ ꛁ ꛂ ꛃ ꛄ ꛅ ꛆ ꛇ ꛈ ꛉ ꛊ ꛋ ꛌ ꛍ ꛎ ꛏ

U+A6Dx ꛐ ꛑ ꛒ ꛓ ꛔ ꛕ ꛖ ꛗ ꛘ ꛙ ꛚ ꛛ ꛜ ꛝ ꛞ ꛟ

U+A6Ex ꛠ ꛡ ꛢ ꛣ ꛤ ꛥ ꛦ ꛧ ꛨ ꛩ ꛪ ꛫ ꛬ ꛭ ꛮ ꛯ

U+A6Fx ꛰ ꛱ ꛲ ꛳ ꛴ ꛵ ꛶ ꛷
Notes

1.^ As of Unicode version 16.0

2.^ Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points

Historical stages of Bamum script were added to Unicode in October, 2010 with the release of version 6.0. These are
encoded in the Bamum Supplement block as U+16800–U+16A3F. The various stages of script development are
dubbed "Phase-A" to "Phase-E". The character names note the last phase in which they appear. For example,
U+168EE 𖣮 bamum letter phase-c pin is attested through Phase C but not in Phase D.
 Bamum Supplement[1][2]
Official Unicode Consortium code chart (https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U16800.pdf) (PDF)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F

U+1680x 𖠀 𖠁 𖠂 𖠃 𖠄 𖠅 𖠆 𖠇 𖠈 𖠉 𖠊 𖠋 𖠌 𖠍 𖠎 𖠏

U+1681x 𖠐 𖠑 𖠒 𖠓 𖠔 𖠕 𖠖 𖠗 𖠘 𖠙 𖠚 𖠛 𖠜 𖠝 𖠞 𖠟

U+1682x 𖠠 𖠡 𖠢 𖠣 𖠤 𖠥 𖠦 𖠧 𖠨 𖠩 𖠪 𖠫 𖠬 𖠭 𖠮 𖠯

U+1683x 𖠰 𖠱 𖠲 𖠳 𖠴 𖠵 𖠶 𖠷 𖠸 𖠹 𖠺 𖠻 𖠼 𖠽 𖠾 𖠿

U+1684x 𖡀 𖡁 𖡂 𖡃 𖡄 𖡅 𖡆 𖡇 𖡈 𖡉 𖡊 𖡋 𖡌 𖡍 𖡎 𖡏

U+1685x 𖡐 𖡑 𖡒 𖡓 𖡔 𖡕 𖡖 𖡗 𖡘 𖡙 𖡚 𖡛 𖡜 𖡝 𖡞 𖡟

U+1686x 𖡠 𖡡 𖡢 𖡣 𖡤 𖡥 𖡦 𖡧 𖡨 𖡩 𖡪 𖡫 𖡬 𖡭 𖡮 𖡯

U+1687x 𖡰 𖡱 𖡲 𖡳 𖡴 𖡵 𖡶 𖡷 𖡸 𖡹 𖡺 𖡻 𖡼 𖡽 𖡾 𖡿

U+1688x 𖢀 𖢁 𖢂 𖢃 𖢄 𖢅 𖢆 𖢇 𖢈 𖢉 𖢊 𖢋 𖢌 𖢍 𖢎 𖢏

U+1689x 𖢐 𖢑 𖢒 𖢓 𖢔 𖢕 𖢖 𖢗 𖢘 𖢙 𖢚 𖢛 𖢜 𖢝 𖢞 𖢟

U+168Ax 𖢠 𖢡 𖢢 𖢣 𖢤 𖢥 𖢦 𖢧 𖢨 𖢩 𖢪 𖢫 𖢬 𖢭 𖢮 𖢯

U+168Bx 𖢰 𖢱 𖢲 𖢳 𖢴 𖢵 𖢶 𖢷 𖢸 𖢹 𖢺 𖢻 𖢼 𖢽 𖢾 𖢿

U+168Cx 𖣀 𖣁 𖣂 𖣃 𖣄 𖣅 𖣆 𖣇 𖣈 𖣉 𖣊 𖣋 𖣌 𖣍 𖣎 𖣏

U+168Dx 𖣐 𖣑 𖣒 𖣓 𖣔 𖣕 𖣖 𖣗 𖣘 𖣙 𖣚 𖣛 𖣜 𖣝 𖣞 𖣟

U+168Ex 𖣠 𖣡 𖣢 𖣣 𖣤 𖣥 𖣦 𖣧 𖣨 𖣩 𖣪 𖣫 𖣬 𖣭 𖣮 𖣯
U+168Fx 𖣰 𖣱 𖣲 𖣳 𖣴 𖣵 𖣶 𖣷 𖣸 𖣹 𖣺 𖣻 𖣼 𖣽 𖣾 𖣿

U+1690x 𖤀 𖤁 𖤂 𖤃 𖤄 𖤅 𖤆 𖤇 𖤈 𖤉 𖤊 𖤋 𖤌 𖤍 𖤎 𖤏

U+1691x 𖤐 𖤑 𖤒 𖤓 𖤔 𖤕 𖤖 𖤗 𖤘 𖤙 𖤚 𖤛 𖤜 𖤝 𖤞 𖤟

U+1692x 𖤠 𖤡 𖤢 𖤣 𖤤 𖤥 𖤦 𖤧 𖤨 𖤩 𖤪 𖤫 𖤬 𖤭 𖤮 𖤯

U+1693x 𖤰 𖤱 𖤲 𖤳 𖤴 𖤵 𖤶 𖤷 𖤸 𖤹 𖤺 𖤻 𖤼 𖤽 𖤾 𖤿

U+1694x 𖥀 𖥁 𖥂 𖥃 𖥄 𖥅 𖥆 𖥇 𖥈 𖥉 𖥊 𖥋 𖥌 𖥍 𖥎 𖥏

U+1695x 𖥐 𖥑 𖥒 𖥓 𖥔 𖥕 𖥖 𖥗 𖥘 𖥙 𖥚 𖥛 𖥜 𖥝 𖥞 𖥟

U+1696x 𖥠 𖥡 𖥢 𖥣 𖥤 𖥥 𖥦 𖥧 𖥨 𖥩 𖥪 𖥫 𖥬 𖥭 𖥮 𖥯

U+1697x 𖥰 𖥱 𖥲 𖥳 𖥴 𖥵 𖥶 𖥷 𖥸 𖥹 𖥺 𖥻 𖥼 𖥽 𖥾 𖥿

U+1698x 𖦀 𖦁 𖦂 𖦃 𖦄 𖦅 𖦆 𖦇 𖦈 𖦉 𖦊 𖦋 𖦌 𖦍 𖦎 𖦏

U+1699x 𖦐 𖦑 𖦒 𖦓 𖦔 𖦕 𖦖 𖦗 𖦘 𖦙 𖦚 𖦛 𖦜 𖦝 𖦞 𖦟
 U+169Ax 𖦠 𖦡 𖦢 𖦣 𖦤 𖦥 𖦦 𖦧 𖦨 𖦩 𖦪 𖦫 𖦬 𖦭 𖦮 𖦯

U+169Bx 𖦰 𖦱 𖦲 𖦳 𖦴 𖦵 𖦶 𖦷 𖦸 𖦹 𖦺 𖦻 𖦼 𖦽 𖦾 𖦿

U+169Cx 𖧀 𖧁 𖧂 𖧃 𖧄 𖧅 𖧆 𖧇 𖧈 𖧉 𖧊 𖧋 𖧌 𖧍 𖧎 𖧏

U+169Dx 𖧐 𖧑 𖧒 𖧓 𖧔 𖧕 𖧖 𖧗 𖧘 𖧙 𖧚 𖧛 𖧜 𖧝 𖧞 𖧟

U+169Ex 𖧠 𖧡 𖧢 𖧣 𖧤 𖧥 𖧦 𖧧 𖧨 𖧩 𖧪 𖧫 𖧬 𖧭 𖧮 𖧯

U+169Fx 𖧰 𖧱 𖧲 𖧳 𖧴 𖧵 𖧶 𖧷 𖧸 𖧹 𖧺 𖧻 𖧼 𖧽 𖧾 𖧿

U+16A0x 𖨀 𖨁 𖨂 𖨃 𖨄 𖨅 𖨆 𖨇 𖨈 𖨉 𖨊 𖨋 𖨌 𖨍 𖨎 𖨏

U+16A1x 𖨐 𖨑 𖨒 𖨓 𖨔 𖨕 𖨖 𖨗 𖨘 𖨙 𖨚 𖨛 𖨜 𖨝 𖨞 𖨟

U+16A2x 𖨠 𖨡 𖨢 𖨣 𖨤 𖨥 𖨦 𖨧 𖨨 𖨩 𖨪 𖨫 𖨬 𖨭 𖨮 𖨯

U+16A3x 𖨰 𖨱 𖨲 𖨳 𖨴 𖨵 𖨶 𖨷 𖨸
Notes

1.^ As of Unicode version 16.0

2.^ Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points

Bamum Scripts and Archives Project

The Bamum Scripts and Archives Project at the Bamum Palace is engaged in a variety of initiatives concerning the
Bamum script, including collecting and photographing threatened documents, translating and in some cases hand-
copying documents, creating a fully usable Bamum computer font for the inventory of documents, and creating a safe
environment for the preservation and storage of documents.

In 2006, the Bamum Scripts and Archives Project embarked on a project to create the first usable Bamum computer
font. In order to do this, the Project examined hundreds of important documents transcribed in the current and most
widely employed variant of the Bamum script: A-ka-u-ku (after its first four characters). The goal of the project team
was to identify the most prominent forms of the various Bamum characters, as there have been many different styles
employed by literates over the years. In particular, the Project examined documents in the script known to have been
written by the three most famous Bamum script literates: King Njoya and his colleagues, Nji Mama and Njoya
Ibrahimou (younger brother of Nji Mama, also a well known Bamum artist).

See also
Nji Oumarou Nchare
Writing systems of Africa
Africa Alphabet
African reference alphabet

References
1. "Bamum script and archives project: saving Africa's written heritage" (https://eap.bl.uk/project/EAP051).
Endangered Archives Programme. 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
 2. Riley, Charles. "Report on work with the Bamum script in Cameroon" (https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2006/
06313-riley-cameroon.pdf) (PDF).
3. The History of cartography. Harley, J. B. (John Brian), Woodward, David, 1942–2004, Monmonier, Mark
S. University of Chicago Press. 1987–2015. p. 42. ISBN 9780226907284. OCLC 13456456 (https://sear
ch.worldcat.org/oclc/13456456).
4. The End of King Njoya and the Bamum Script (http://www.members.aon.at/africanfonts.at/bamum.htm)
5. Unseth, Peter. 2011. Invention of Scripts in West Africa for Ethnic Revitalization. In The Success-Failure
Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts, ed. by Joshua A. Fishman and Ofelia García, pp. 23-
32. New York: Oxford University Press.
6. Riley, Charles (2007-01-19). "L2/07-023: Towards the Encoding of the Bamum Script in the UCS" (http
s://www.unicode.org/L2/L2007/07023-bamum-report.pdf) (PDF).
7. Everson, Michael; Riley, Charles; Tuchscherer, Konrad (2008-10-14). "L2/08-350: Proposal to encode
modern Bamum in the BMP" (https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2008/08350-n3522-bamum.pdf) (PDF).
8. "Chapter 19: Africa, Bamum" (https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode10.0.0/ch19.pdf#G45398)
(PDF). The Unicode Standard, Version 10.0. Mountain View, California: Unicode, Inc. July 2017.
ISBN 978-1-936213-16-0.

External links
Bamum - Atlas of Endangered Alphabets (https://www.endangeredalphabets.net/alphabets/bamum/)
Bamum Scripts and Archives Project (https://web.archive.org/web/20091024043829/http://www.bamums
cript.org/)
Omniglot page (https://www.omniglot.com/writing/bamumsyllabary.htm) (contradicts the Unicode sound
assignments)
Bamum script notes — r12a (https://r12a.github.io/scripts/bamum/)
Bamum Font Initiative (https://web.archive.org/web/20070812133844/http://www.bamumscript.org/font.p
hp)

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