Vai Syllable Bhu

It writes one Vai syllable, transliterated bhu.

The spelling bhu is a transliteration, not a word-level translation; the surrounding Vai text supplies the word's meaning. The script emerged in Liberia in the early 1830s, primarily through Momolu Duwalu Bukele and associates. The earliest known surviving sample dates to 1834 and was written by Fan Dawo Kelondo. The Book of Ndole, also called Book of Rora, is an early manuscript dated ca. 1845. Variation in the manuscripts and later standardization efforts show that the writing system evolved.

Why was the Vai script made?

It gave Vai speakers a way to write their language for practical use.

The script served correspondence and record-keeping, especially among merchants and traders. Vai literacy later coexisted with Arabic and English. Its syllabic design inspired the Mende, Loma, and Kpelle scripts; the creator of the Bassa alphabet was also familiar with Vai. Those systems used their own characters, so the connection is in script design, not a one-to-one character link.

Possible Cherokee influence is debated. Evidence of contact alone does not show that Vai borrowed Cherokee characters.

How do I type ꖜ?

As of 2026, MediaWiki maps bh then u to ꖜ.