Oja Display is the second release from Ụdị, an independent African type foundry led by Chisaokwu Joboson. Inspired by the traditional Oja flute from Eastern Nigeria, this bold, expressive typeface marries modern design with cultural heritage—ideal for impactful headlines, branding, and cultural projects.
At Ụdị foundry, Chisaokwu Joboson is driven by a passion for exploring Africa's story and cultural legacy through type design. The journey for Oja Display began as an exploration into African flutes, focusing on capturing the essence of the traditional Oja flute from Eastern Nigeria. “I wanted to capture the soul of the Oja flute—its unique finger holes and bold, tapered stems—striking a balance between modernity and heritage,” Joboson explains. The challenge was to create a typeface that balanced historical significance with contemporary design sensibilities, making it versatile enough for both editorial and cultural applications.
Oja Display features distinctive counterforms inspired by the flute’s finger holes and boldly tapered stems, resulting in a design that honors heritage while embracing modernity. With 1,042 glyphs and support for over 180 languages, the typeface is engineered for versatility. “I aimed for Oja Display to carry the voice of ancestry in every letter, echoing tradition while shaping the present” Joboson remarks.
Oja Display V.1 is now available for download for Local and International audiences.
