West Africa stands out as fertile ground for the emergence of new writing systems, with a rich history including the creation of several scripts since the 19th century (Dalby 1967, 1968, 1969) ¹ . Oreen Yousuf ² sheds light on this reality, demonstrating that the African continent is the place of origin of several writing systems, through a mapping of the different scripts present in Africa.

Unfortunately, many of these scripts, including Bété, are not yet supported by Unicode, hindering their use and digital distribution.

This research aims to remedy this shortcoming by proposing a specific typographic solution: the creation of a typeface dedicated to the Bété script. Based on an exhaustive analysis of existing documentation on the Bété script, the aim is to propose a suitable typographic translation, facilitate its integration into Unicode, promote its distribution and enable its transmission in the digital era.

The context of cultural and linguistic preservation underlines the crucial importance of this undertaking, while current challenges linked to digital adaptation highlight the need for an adapted response.

For this typographic design project, the design methodology is based on data collection, expert consultation, collaboration with Bété script specialists and a field survey to gather impressions from the Bété community. The typeface creation process is described in detail, highlighting the challenges encountered and preliminary legibility tests.

Developing a typeface for the Bété script involves several stages of work, from preliminary research to aesthetic and graphic choices, as well as the readability tests required to validate the proposals. Potential applications in education, culture and communication are explored, highlighting the positive impact on the preservation of the Bété language.

In conclusion, this research highlights the crucial importance of creating a typeface for the Bété script. It calls for continued preservation and promotion efforts, highlighting the essential role of this initiative in preserving the cultural and linguistic wealth of the Bété community.

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1. Dalby, David. 1967. “A survey of the indigenous scripts of Liberia and Sierra Leone: Vai,Mende, Loma, Kpelle and Bassa.”; In African Language Studies, edited by Malcolm Guthrie, 1-51. London: School of Oriental and African Studies. Dalby, David. 1968. “The indigenous scripts of West Africa and Surinam: Their inspiration and design”; African Language Studies 9 :156-197. Dalby, David. 1969. “Further indigenous scripts of West Africa: Manding, Wolof, and Fula alphabets and Yoruba holy-writing.” African Language Studies 10 :161-191

2. PhD student at Uppsala University, Sweden