This hieroglyphic text, familiar to Egyptologists, but unknown to the general public, dates from 6th Dynasty Egypt, over 4,000 years ago -- proof that the oral and written components of African culture are both ancient. PER ANKH offers a line-by-line transliteration of the hieroglyphic text, translated into Akan, Arabic, Bambara, English, French, Hausa, Kikongo, Kiswahili, Portuguese, Pulaar, Wolof, Yoruba and Zulu. Useful for scholars in literature, language and Egyptology, as well as for general readers. 

The story is straightforward. A top state official, Ptahhotep (The Creator is pleased), asks the king to let his son inherit his office when he retires. The king agrees, provided the son is well educated. This text outlines the requirements of that education.