Google Fonts adds Ga Maamli, a font inspired by handwritten posters found in Accra, to its catalogue
Ga Maamli, designed by Afotey Clement Nii Odai, Ama Diaka, and David Abbey-Thompson, is a font inspired by the historic handwritten posters found in the vibrant coastal communities of Accra.
Google Fonts has announced the addition of Ga Maamli, a font inspired by the historic handwritten posters found in the vibrant coastal communities of Accra, designed by Ghanaian design trio—Afotey Clement Nii Odai, Ama Diaka, and David Abbey-Thompson—to its robust catalogue of open-source fonts.
Originally used to announce social events like concerts, boxing matches, and parties, these original posters exuded a distinct flair and vivacity. Ga Maamli has been adapted and reworked into an extended character set that preserves the dynamism and allure of its traditional counterpart, the announcement stated.
According to Google Fonts, Ga Maamli supports over 514 African languages. “This font’s variations and nuances exude a charm that pays homage to its vernacular origins while embracing modern typographic standards,” Google Fonts notes. “Ga Maamli is more than just a font – it captures and celebrates the lively culture of the people of Accra.”
Announcing the collaboration with Google Fonts, Accra, Ghana-based creative designer Afotey Clement Nii Odai, known as Vikers, wrote, “Ga Maamli font is now available on Google Fonts! After months of dedicated work, we are proud to present this font inspired by the historic handwritten posters from the vibrant coastal communities of Accra.”
“We extend our gratitude to the team and express our heartfelt thanks to Thomas Jockin and Eben Sorkin for their invaluable mentorship on this project,” adds Vikers, who excels as a brand, product, iconographer, and type designer.
Read Also: Google Fonts adds 2 typefaces—created by a Nigerian and a Zimbabwean designer—to its catalogue
To bring the font to life, Vikers worked with Ama Asantewa Diaka, a storyteller and a community catalyst, and David Abbey-Thompson, a creative from Accra, Ghana.
Diaka is the author of two poetry books — “You too will know me” and “Woman, eat me whole” and a short story collection “Someone birthed them broken”. She is also the founder of Black Girls Glow, a feminist arts nonprofit that uses art to build thriving ecosystems, & Tampered Press, a Ghana-based independent publisher dedicated to books by and about Africans.
Abbey-Thompson, who loves to explore vernacular design culture, is a partner at Aayalolo Foundry. He is also the project director for Akutso Design Lab, a not-for-profit creative lab in Accra.
Ga Maamli is part of the Google Fonts type project in Africa. In March, The Creatives Note reported the addition of 2 typefaces—Ojuju, a san-serif typeface of an afro-grotesque style, created by Chisaokwu Joboson, a Nigerian-based brand and type designer, and Madimi, a rounded-sans with a mixed geometric and organic design, created by Taurai Valerie Mtake, a Zimbabwean visual communicator and type designer—to Google Fonts’ catalogue of open-source fonts.
Since then, it has added Tac One, a single-weight, bold Sans Serif typeface and Danfo, a tuscan serif font, designed by Afrotype—a Lagos-based type studio founded by Seyi Olusanya—to its catalogue.
So happy to relocate Vikers! First Ghanaian type designer I saw. Also - this font is begging for layering!