I am always at a loss when I read that the mende alphabeth was created by kissimi kamara in 1921. How can this be when every dialect had their own symbol which have been lumped together as one by European? In the olden days mende use writing to communicate with one another, in wars and in peace, and symbols were written in sand which only mende can understand to communicate their movement.

many people knew how to read and write which they learn when the join society, they visited one and other,or a village. A wuja is sent with a letter which will contain the words 'we have come in peace' Colonialism stopped the mende from learning their own alphabeth.

Abbibatu Gardrie