At a May 3 gathering at the India International Centre in New Delhi, poet-diplomat Abhay K discussed his new collection, The Alphabets of Africa, in conversation with Professor Siddharth Mallavarapu of Shiv Nadar University. The session attracted diplomats, scholars, research students and other experts, and explored the creative and intellectual journey behind the book. Published earlier this year by Penguin Random House India, the collection comprises 180 poems organized as a poetic atlas that maps Africa from A to Z. Each letter opens a window onto the continent’s past and present, introducing personalities, landmarks, customs, traditions and cultural milestones across Africa’s 54 countries. Abhay described the project as an attempt to trace more than 5,000 years of African history and to foreground the continent’s contributions to the modern world. He explained that using the alphabet as a framework allowed him to create a sequence of poems that together form a vivid portrait of a place he sees as the cradle of humanity. Attendee questions reflected a growing curiosity about Africa and the evolving partnership between India and African nations. Professor Siddharth Mallavarapu praised the volume for combining poetic craft with wide-ranging insight into Africa’s intellectual traditions, biodiversity and complex geography. He said the discussion touched on the historical legacy of colonialism and on social and economic topics where poetry can help illuminate human experience and policy debates. Inspired by Abhay K’s travels across the continent, the poems challenge long-held stereotypes and invite readers to appreciate Africa’s depth, diversity and beauty. Framed by rhythm, memory and imagination, The Alphabets of Africa aims not simply to map a continent but to reshape how it is seen, offering readers a layered, empathetic route into history, culture and contemporary life.
