This paper argues for orthographic reforms that explain the displacements and diasporic nature of late modern African identities and lifestyles, in the shape of practice-based harmonisation approaches, grounded on descriptions of noticeable writing practices. This is counterbalanced with a revelation on actual language policies which seem drafted for a progressively scarce monoglot ‘standard’ speaker, who solely speaks a ‘tribal’ language. The implications of the philosophical challenges of this situation for linguists, language planners and policy makers are debated.