Agụ Display
Agụ
About the font
‘Agụ Display’ is a decorative, rounded, sans-serif display typeface featuring a substitution axis that makes the letters dance. With origins in the Ekpe secret society, Agụ Display brings the ancient mystique of Nsibidi symbols to life with inspiration from a rich West African heritage, extending from Cross River to Cameroon. From the Ụzọ, Àlà to Osisi masters, let Agụ Display take you on a winding path through time, merging tradition with contemporary style in a unique typographic adventure as your words dance with history! Agụ Display was designed by Seun Badejo and released in 2024. It features stylistic influences from the popular Kablammo and Jokerman fonts with decorative influences from Nsibidi and Neo-Nsibidi.
Strength of the leopard
Shrouded in mystery; uncovered by light. The leopard dances under the moon
Nsibidi, emerging over 1,000 years ago in Nigeria, represents more than mere symbols; it embodies a rich, cultural narrative. The Ejagham peopie, primarily in southeastern Nigeria and parts of Cameroon, developed this script. It was adopted by various groups, including the Efik, Ibibio, and Igbo.
Warmth
Calabash
Ibe m
Glyph construction
Agụ Display has three Styles, Ụzọ, Àlà and Osisi that all interpolate in a Morph Substitution Axis
The Ụzọ Style is predominantly decorated with the Nsibidi symbol for Road (Ụzọ) and Human (Madu), with some characters inspired by the Snake (Agwọ) with the Sword (Ọpịa) symbol being used selectively on terminals in a similar manner as serifs. This style feels visually modern and contemporary.
Ladder-like decorations running within and unique to the Ụzọ master. They occur as either vertical, horizontal or curved decorations. They are a direct connotation of the Nsibidi pictogram for road or way (Ụzọ) and move around in a slow, sweeping motion.
These are decorations that occur at terminals in different forms across all the styles in horizontal or chevron-shaped decorations. The Ụzọ style features a form inspired by the Nsibidi pictogram for sword (Ọpịa).
The Àlà style is predominantly decorated with the Nsibidi symbols for Elder/Chief (Mazi/Īchie) and Zero (Efu) being used selectively on terminals in a similar manner as serifs. Àlà (Ground) reflects the flat nature of the terminals. This style feels visually sturdy and gentle.
Reminiscent of a perfect kebab stick, these decorations are unique to the Àlà master and feature diagonal or horizontal lines running along the style. The Kebab is a direct connotation of the Nsibidi pictogram for Zero (Efu).
Occurring in all three styles, these bone-like decorations are inspired by the Nsibidi pictogram for Elder/Chief and morph to form the pictogram representing Land (Àlà) in the other two styles.
These are decorations that occur at terminals in different morphing forms across all the styles in horizontal or chevron-shaped decorations. The Àlà style features a form inspired by the Nsibidi pictogram for Ground (Àlà).
The Osisi style is predominantly decorated with the Nsibidi symbol for Tree (Osisi) riddled throughout the font style, with some characters inspired by the Leopard (Agụ) with Wing/Pigeon (Nku) being used selectively on terminals in a similar manner as serifs. this style feels fierce and full of charisma.
These are double or triple parallel strokes unique to the Osisi style that decorate the stems rather than the terminals alone. They are inspired by the Nsibidi symbols for tree (osisi) and leopard (agụ). They move in a swaying motion like leaves on a tree.
Occurring in all three styles, these bone-like decorations are inspired by the Nsibidi pictogram for Elder/Chief and morph to form the pictogram representing Land (Àlà) in the other two styles.
These are decorations that occur at terminals in different morphing forms across all the styles in horizontal or chevron-shaped decorations. The Osisi style features a chevron-shaped form inspired by the Nsibidi pictogram for Wing (Nku).
Ụzọ Master
Àlà Master
Osisi Master
Ụzọ Axis
Ụzọ means ‘way’ in Igbo.
Àlà Axis
Àlà means ‘ground’ in Igbo.
Osisi Axis
Osisi means ‘tree’ in Igbo.
A
Glyph Preview
Stoop to conquer
A
G
U
Infinity
Supported languages
Afrikaans, Albanian, Asturian, Azerbaijani, Basque, Bemba, Bosnian, Breton, Catalan, Cornish, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Esperanto, Estonian, Faroese, Fijian, Filipino, Finnish, French, Frisian, Friulian, Galician, Ganda, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Kinyarwanda, Klingon, Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourgish, Makhuwa, Maltese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Romansh, Sango, Scottish Gaelic, Serbian, Shona, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Swiss German, Turkish, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Welsh, Zarma, Zulu.