Oja Display Typeface: Nigerian Contemporary Font Based on An Ancestral Sound

March 31, 2025
6 Min
144

Oja Display is a contemporary typeface that masterfully intertwines African cultural heritage with modern design principles. Crafted by Udi Foundry, an independent African type design studio led by Chisaokwu Joboson, this bold and expressive typeface draws inspiration from the traditional Oja flute of Eastern Nigeria. The result is a font that not only pays homage to its cultural roots but also serves as a versatile tool for various design applications.

Design Inspiration: The Oja Flute

The Oja flute, a traditional musical instrument of the Igbo people in Eastern Nigeria, is characterized by its unique anatomical structure, notably its finger holes and tapered form. These distinctive features have been artfully incorporated into the design of the Oja Display typeface. The font showcases unique counterforms reminiscent of the flute’s finger holes and boldly tapered stems, striking a balance between modern aesthetics and cultural heritage. This thoughtful design approach ensures that each character embodies the essence of the Oja flute, making the typeface a living representation of Nigerian musical tradition.

Versatility and Language Support

Oja Display is not only visually striking but also highly functional. It comprises 1,042 glyphs and supports over 180 languages, demonstrating its adaptability for a global audience. This extensive character set makes it suitable for a wide range of design projects, including impactful headlines, editorial layouts, branding initiatives, and cultural projects that seek to infuse African heritage into contemporary contexts.

About Udi Foundry and Chisaokwu Joboson

Udi Foundry, under the leadership of Chisaokwu Joboson, is dedicated to exploring African stories and cultural legacies through type design. The journey to create Oja Display began as an exploration into African flutes, focusing on capturing the essence of the traditional Oja flute from Eastern Nigeria. Joboson’s vision was to encapsulate the soul of the Oja flute—its unique finger holes and bold, tapered stems—while achieving a harmonious balance between modernity and heritage. This endeavor reflects Udi Foundry’s commitment to producing typefaces that resonate with cultural significance and contemporary relevance.

Oja Display stands as a testament to the potential of type design to serve as a bridge between tradition and modernity. By drawing inspiration from the Oja flute, Udi Foundry has created a typeface that not only preserves cultural heritage but also offers contemporary designers a unique tool to infuse their projects with rich African symbolism. Whether used in editorial design, branding, or cultural initiatives, Oja Display exemplifies the harmonious fusion of past and present, making it a valuable asset in the world of typography.

For more information or to purchase Oja Display, please visit Udi Foundry’s Gumroad page. To learn more about the designer, Chisaokwu Joboson, visit his personal website.