Sorabe alphabet

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Sorabe, or Sora-be, is an alphabet based on Arabic used to transcribe the Malagasy language and the Antemoro dialect in particular. A couple hundred old manuscripts have survived to this day though the oldest may have been written no earlier than the 17th century. Most of the texts contain magical formulas but there are also some historical texts concerning the origin of some of the tribes of the south east of Madagascar. These origins are traced to Mecca or the Prophet Mohammed even though the practice of Islam is no where seen in the texts.

Sorabe eventually spread across the island beginning in the 17th century and the Merina king Andrianampoinimerina called for Antemoro scribes to teach the children of his court to read and write. This is how the future king Radama I could read and write from his childhood.

Sorabe litteraly means "large writing" and may point to the existence of another form of writing with smaller characters, possibly of Indian origin like those used in South East Asia.