Customer Reviews

Ethiopic an African Writing System: Its History and Principles

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is excellent, for not only educating the masses of Africa's indigenous genius, but exposing prior African scholar's unquestioning trust in the opinions of scholars from outside the continent as truthful. The author exposes the biases that European scholars had when examining African genius. The underlying theme of these biases is that African genius comes from outside of the African continent. Mr. Ayele Bekerie represents the new African scholar that not only exposes distortions, but provides you insight into the politics of European and European trained scholars that have used unscientific methods, and terminology to discredit indigenous African genius. His dissecting of the term "Semite" is thorough. He provides sources, proof and examples to back up his work and analysis. Mr. Bekerie's detractors have reviewed his work and criticized it without providing any evidence, only opinions, and these opinions are no longer accepted as truth as they once were. This practice of making statements such as "it is believed", or "it is thought" is no longer accepted without scientific proof. Mr. Bekerie's book provides scientific proof. This is a must read!

This is a groundbraking study about the history and principles of Ethiopic (Ge'ez), the language and writing system of present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. The author argues that Ethiopic is a knowledge system which is brilliantly organized to represent philosophical features such as ideography, mnemonics, syllography, astronomy, numerology and grammatology. The ancient mysteires of books such as KIBRA NAGAST and THE BOOK OF HENOK [ENOCH] are also dealt with in-depth.

This study explores in a very original and interesting approach the dynamic linkages between the Ethiopic and the ancient Egyptian writing system. In a sharp departure from the established view of most Ethiopianists of the old school, Ayele Bekerie contends that the Ethiopic writing system is much older than has been previously thought, tracing back its origin to around 2000 BC. This is a work of Africanist scholarship in the tradition of Cheikh Anta Diop that will have significant impact in the study of African linguistics and philosophy.

A thought-provoking but finally frustrating book whose theses are not backed by the facts. Read with caution. It's worth reading Peter T. Daniel's review of the book on the H-Africa list [H-Net Reviews] as Daniels has a lot of useful things to say on the book which may not be apparent to the non-specialist in Afro-Asiatic languages.

I agree 100% with Elias's review of Ayele's book. In "Ethiopic" Ayele proves beyond any doubt that, that writing system is indigenously African, contrary to western assertions about its "Southern Arabian origin." Moreover, the author shows the connection between some of the ideographic characters of the system, and the African-American political and religious expressions. The fist-looking character is one example, signifying "Black Power." Another is the "third hour" time reckoning of the African American tabernacle in South Philadelphia. I recommend this book whole-heartedly. It may shake some established "africanist" stereotypes. But that's good too. The Publisher Africa World Press is to be congratulated for a job well done.

Dr. Ayele's work is a passionate contribution for African history, African culture, and African consciousness. Dr. Ayele's special approach is the origins, history and nature of the classic Ethiopian writing system. It is made very clear how the origin of the Ethiopian writing in Western, Europaean studies regularly is explained by a "South Arabian" immigration into Ethiopia at some point in history importing a "superior" (over Africa) culture and a writing system as well (that will later be known as the Ethiopian). Much of the book is devoted to questioning this dominating account of early Ethiopia. Dr. Ayele discusses thoroughly the basic assumptions involved here: Why is not the origin of Ethiopian writing looked for in Ethiopia but outside of Ethiopia and outside of Africa? Why is it almost an axiom that a "superior" civilization always is imposed upon Africa?

The book really exposes this basic set-up concerning the study of African history and culture. On the other side, what positively is contributed on the actual history and evolution of Ethiopian writing, I sometimes feel that interesting new tracks are not followed very far. Perhaps the book shall be understood as opening a bridge-head from where other researchers can continue.

Along the way many interesting details of Ethiopian culture are offered.

I find it surprisingly deceiving that Ayele discredits the works of senior Ethiopianist in his fast arguments... The work doesn't seem as thorough as one would have expected, especially coming from reading the reviews. It's more of a historical account than anything else.

The author did his homework,refined the facts and gave us a brilliant presentation. Kindly check out GERALD MASSEY: Egypt Light Of The World,Book of Beginnings;ALBERT CHURCHWARD and,ALVIN BOYD KUHN for some real exciting STUFF!

This english-language work asks more questions than it answers but a selective reading hints at the powerful and often surprising qualities of the Ge'ez language. It is left up to the reader to to pursue and solve the Ge'ez riddle. Good Luck, cheerful Egyptians, Meroists, Rastafarians and all our good wise men!

Nothing like weaving fact and fiction together to come up with a new and politically correct (Afrocentrism) history. Pity the book was never properly peer reviewed. Trained linguists know this book to be non-sense with very dated and often wrong references. Africans have a wonderful and rich heritage and should be very proud of it but this book is mostly just tripe.