Recently, I heard a commentary, very likely on Public Radio (NPR's ATC?)
about Ajami ("Ajami" -- the term seems to be hoping for legitimacy).

Various African cultures, notably those of the Hausa-speaking people, had
been thought, let's say, when the Europeans colonized Africa, to be
illiterate. Not so. The Arabic abugida (not abjad, correct?) was adapted
to the sounds of African languages, as it was, for instance, for Farsi. It
turns out that centuries ago, a number of African languages were written;
their speakers were not necessarily illiterate. (One thinks of Chu Nom, in
a rather different context...) Apparently Ajami, in more-recent times, is
primarily for Islamic text, although iirc in the past, it was in general
use.

Wikipedia has only a skeleton article, but one reference I found helpful
and informative is:
<http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/ArabicScript>
You'll note that in the page title, "Ajami" is in quotes.
Apparently, there is work underway to establish a standard orthography,
and define the writing system more formally.

Sorry, WWS/D&B doesn't mention Ajami in its index; nor does
_Alphabete und Schriftzeichen des Morgen- und des Abendlandes_
(Zweite Auflage) (Subtitle on request)
Published for/by Bundesdruckerei, Berlin, 1969
(Kommissionsverlag Otto Harrassowitz Wiesbaden)

I'm part dilettante, definitely an amateur, with attempts at being an
independent scholar now and then. Bits of the above might be incorrect!
Nevertheless, Ajami did seem well worth a mention.

Best regards,

--
Nicholas Bodley _.=|*|=._ Waltham, Mass.
How to tie your shoelaces so they'll stay tied:
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/23ynbom>
(Very good site, btw!)