At a time when literature is increasingly being called upon to bridge cultures and challenge inherited worldviews, poet-diplomat Abhay K.’s latest work, The Alphabets of Africa, found an apt forum at the India International Centre (IIC), where a distinguished audience gathered for a thought-provoking discussion on Saturday.
The event brought together scholars, diplomats, and students, underscoring the unique position Abhay K. occupies—at the intersection of poetry and international relations. In conversation with Professor Siddharth Mallavarapu of Shiv Nadar University, the author reflected on his creative and intellectual journey across the African continent, a journey distilled into 180 poems that attempt nothing less than a reimagining of Africa itself.
Published by Penguin Random House India, The Alphabets of Africa is structured as a “poetic atlas,” moving alphabetically from A to Z. Each letter becomes a gateway into Africa’s civilisational depth—introducing readers to figures such as Mansa Musa and Shaka Zulu, landmarks like Mount Entoto, and even abstract cultural motifs. The result is a work that blends geography, history, and imagination into what Abhay K. described as “creative cartography.”
Drawing from his extensive travels, the poems seek to dismantle monolithic portrayals of Africa. Instead, they present a continent of plurality, dignity, and layered histories. In some instances, the poet employs unconventional narrative voices—famously allowing Ethiopian coffee to tell its own story—thereby expanding the boundaries of poetic storytelling.
The discussion at IIC reflected this ambition. With several African ambassadors in attendance alongside international relations experts and doctoral researchers, the conversation moved beyond literature into questions of representation, global narratives, and the politics of cultural understanding.
The book has already generated significant intellectual interest since its launch at the Jaipur Literature Festival earlier this year by British historian Alex von Tunzelmann. Subsequent discussions at Delhi University’s Centre of African Studies and Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of International Studies have positioned it as an important cultural text within academic and diplomatic circles.
Noted columnist Suvir Saran, in his remarks on the book, captured its dual appeal: “This collection offers both pleasure and provocation… to read The Alphabets of Africa is to be reminded that language, at its best, does not label the world—it liberates it.” He further described Abhay K. as “a writer of bridges,” linking not only past and present but also continents and sensibilities.
That idea of “bridges” extends beyond the literary. Abhay K., currently serving as India’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has also been at the centre of recent diplomatic developments. At a time when India-Azerbaijan relations faced strain following geopolitical tensions, his efforts have contributed to a cautious but significant thaw. Recent engagements between the two countries, including high-level consultations in Baku, signal a renewed willingness to rebuild ties.
Moreover, the Indian embassy in Baku, under his leadership, has played a crucial humanitarian role in facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals from conflict-hit Iran via Azerbaijan—an effort that has helped restore trust and cooperation between the two nations.
In this light, The Alphabets of Africa appears not merely as a literary achievement but as part of a broader worldview—one that sees culture, poetry, and diplomacy as intertwined practices. The same sensibility that animates his verse—of listening, mapping, and connecting—also seems to inform his diplomatic engagements.
As the discussion at IIC concluded, what lingered was not just an appreciation of the book, but a larger reflection on how stories shape global understanding. In inviting readers to “see Africa afresh,” Abhay K. may also be suggesting a wider imperative: to approach the world itself with greater curiosity, humility, and imagination.
