Adinkra Symbols

Origins and History

Adinkra are small symbols from West Africa, originally created by the Gyaman people, in what is now the present day country of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in western Africa. The term Adinkra came from the legendary king of the Gyaman, Nani kofi Adinkra, who wore clothes with colorful patterns made up of symbols with special meanings.

King Adinkra was defeated and captured in battle by the ancient Asante people for having copied the "Golden Stool". The Golden Stool is the Asante royal throne which was said to have descended from the heavens and landed on the lap of the first Asante king, and represents absolute power and tribal cohesion. King Adinkra was killed, his territory annexed by the neighboring Asante kingdom, and the patterns on his clothes were taken by the Asante as their own.

Creating Adinkra Symbols

Adinkra symbols express various themes that relate to the history and beliefs of the Asante, and usually have a rich proverbial meaning since proverbs play an important role in their culture. Designs were originally made by cutting a pattern in a calabash gourd, and then stamping the print on a piece of colorful fabric. The deep brown ink originally used, adinkra aduru, is created by boiling the bark of the Badie tree with scraps of iron. Adinkra symbols continue to evolve to this day depicting historical events, technological improvements, and changes to Ghanaian culture.

Ancient and Modern Day Uses

Bidding Farewell

Adinkra can be literally translated to "good bye", or "farewell" in Asante Twi, a language spoken in Ghana by approximately 15 million people. At one time, Adinkra cloth and symbols were only worn and displayed during funerals. The symbols signified their sorrow and acted as a way to bid farewell to the deceased.

Modern Day Usage

Nowadays, Adinkra is not exclusively won by the Asante people, and is worn at a variety of social gatherings and special occasions, such as weddings, festivals, and naming ceremonies. The symbols have been used to decorate accessories other than cloth by artists, carpenters and architects. Throughout Ghana and elsewhere, Adinkra can be seen on fabrics, walls, pottery, and even corporate logos.

Symbol	Akan Translation	Literal Meaning	Symbolic Meaning	Proverb
	Aban	Fence	Strength and Authority
	Abe Dua	Palm Tree	Wealth, Self-Sufficiency, Vitality	Nipa nye abe dua na ne ho ahyia ne ho; The human being is not like the palm that is selfsufficient. Nnua nyinaa bewu agya abe; All trees will wither safe the palm tree.
	Adikrahene Dua	Adinkra King Stamp	Greatness, Royalty
	Adinkrahene	Adinkra King. Chief of all the Adinkra designs; Forms the basis of Adinkra printing	Greatness, Royalty
	Adwera	Watery Shrub	Purity, Sanctity, Chastity, Good Fortune, Consecration, Cleanliness	Adwera nsuo, wo ne nkwansuo, nsu korogyenn a wohuru nso wonhye; Water of life, you are the pure crystal clean water that boils but, does not burn.
	Adwo	Peace	Peace, Calmness	Ohene nya ahontenafo pa a, ne bere so dwo; When the king has good counselors, then he will have a peaceful reign.
	Agyinduwura		Faithfulness, Alertness, Dutifulness
	Akoben	War Horn; The sound of Akoben is a battle cry.	Vigilance, Call to arms, Readiness and Preparedness for action or battle.
	Akofena	Sword of War	Courage, Valor
	Akokonan	The Leg of a Hen	Parenthood, Care, Tenderness, Protection, Mercy, Nurturing, Parental Discipline	Akoko nan tia ba, na ennkum no; The hen treads upon its chicks but it does not intend to kill them.
	Akoma	The Heart	Patience, Tolerance, Love and Faithfulness	Nya Akoma; Take heart.
	Akoma Ntoso	Linked Hearts	Understanding, Agreement, Unity
	Ananse Ntontan	Spider Web	Wisdom, Creativity
	Ani Bere	Seriousness	Diligence, Perseverance	Ani bere a, nso gya, anka mani abere koo; Seriousness does not show fiery eyes, else you would see my face all red.
	Asase Ye Duru	The Earth has Weight	Divinity of Mother Earth, Providence, Power, Authority, Wealth, Might	Tumi nyina ne asase; All power emanates from the earth. Asase ye duru sen epo; The earth is heavier than the sea
	Aya	The Fern	Defiance, Endurance, Resourcefulness
	Bese Saka	Sack of Cola Nuts	Affluence, Abundance, Unity
	Bi Nnka Bi	Bite Not One Another	Peace, Harmony, Caution Against Strife and Provocation
	Biribi Wo Soro	There is something in the Heavens	Hope	Nyame, biribi wo soro, na ma embeka me nsa; God, there is something in heaven, let it get to me
	Boa Me Na Me Boa Wo	Help Me to Help You	Interdependence, Cooperation
	Dame Dame	A Board Game	Intelligence, Ingenuity
	Denkyem	Crocodile	Adaptability
	Dono	Drum	Praise
	Duafe	Wooden Comb	Beauty, Hygiene, Feminine Qualities
	Dwannimmen	Ram's Horn	Concealment, Humility and Strength, Wisdom and Learning	Dwannini ye asisie a, ode n'akorana na...; It is the heart and not the horns that leads a ram to bully.
	Eban	Fence	Love, Safety, Security
	Epa	Handcuffs	Slavery, Equality, Law and Justice
	Ese Ne Tekrema	The Teeth and the Tongue	Friendship, Interdependence, Strength in Unity
	Fafanto		Tenderness, Gentleness
	Fawohudie	Freedom	Freedom, Liberty
	Fihankra	House	Safety, Security
	Fofo	A Yellow-Flowered Plant	Jealousy, Envy
	Funtumfunafu Denkyem Funafu	Siamese Crocodiles	Democracy, Unity in Diversity
	Gye Nyame	Except for God	Supremacy of God, Omnipotence and Immortality of God
	Hwemudua		Excellence, Superior Quality
	Hye Won Hye	That Which Cannot Be Burnt	Imperishability, Endless, Forgiveness, Toughness	Hye wonnhye; He who burns be not burned.
	Kae Me	Remember Me	Loyalty, Faithfulness
	Kete Pa	Good Bed	Good Marriage, Love, Faithfulness
	Kintinkantan	Puffed Up Extravagance	Arrogance, Extravagance
	Kojo Baiden	Rays	Cosmos, Omnipresence
	Kontire Ne Akwamu	State Elders	Reliance, Democracy	One head does not make up council.
	Krado	Seal of Law and Order	The Court's Authority
	Kramo Bone	The bad make it difficult for the good to be noticed.	Warning Against Deception and Hypocrisy
	Kuntinkantan	Do not boast. Do not be filled with pride.	Need for Humility and Service, Modesty
	Kwatakye Atiko	Hair of the Hero Kwatakye	Valor, Bravery, Leadership
	Mako
	Mate Masie	I have heard and kept it	Knowledge, Wisdom	Nyansa bun mu ne mate masie; Deep wisdom comes out of listening and keeping what is heard.
	Mframadan	Wind-Resistant House	Fortitude, Preparedness
	Mmere Dane	Time Changes	Change, Life's Dynamics
	Mmomudwan	Unity	Unity, Togetherness
	Mmra Krado	Seal of Law and Order	The Court's Authority, Law and Order
	Mmusuyidee	That which removes ill luck or evil	Good Fortune, Sanctity, Spiritual Strength
	Mpatapo	Knot of Reconciliation	Reconciliation, Peacemaking
	Mpuannum	Five Tufts of Hair	Skillfulness, Priestly Office, Loyalty, Adroitness
	Nkonsonkonson	Chain Links	Unity, Human Relations
	Nea Onnim No Sua A Ohu	He who does not know can know from Learning	Knowledge
	Nea Ope Se Nkrofoo Ye Ma Wo No, Ye Saa Ara Ma Won	Do to others the things you want them to do to for you.	Justice	Nea ope se nkrofoo ye ma wo no, ye saa ara ma won; Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.
	Nea Ope Se Obedi Hene	He Who Wants to be King	Leadership
	Nkontim	Hair of the Queen's Servant	Loyalty, Service
	Nkuma Kese	The Great Okra	Supremacy, Superiority
	Nkyimu	The crossed divisions made on Adinkra cloth before printing	Skillfulness, Precision
	Nkyinkyim	Zigzag, Twisting	Initiative, Toughness, Adaptability, Resoluteness	Obra kwan ye nkyinkyimiie; Life's path is full of ups and downs; twists and turns.
	Nnonnowa	Double Drum	Valor, Strength
	Nsaa	Type of hand-woven cloth	Excellence, Genuineness, Authenticity	Nea onnim nsaa oto n'ago; He who does not know authentic Nsaa will buy the fakes.
	Nserewa		Wealth, Abundance, Affluence
	Nsoromma	Child of the Heavens	Guardianship
	Nya Abotere	Be Patient	Patience, Calmness
	Nyame Akruma	God's Axe	Stealth, Righteous Might
	Nyame Biribi Wo Soro	God is in the Heavens	Hope
	Nyame Dua	Altar of God	God's Presence, Protection
	Nyame Nnwu Na Mawu	God never dies, therefore I cannot die	Life after Death
	Nyame Nti	By God's Grace	Faith and Trust in God	Nyame nti mi nnwe wura; By God's grace, I will not eat leaves to survive.
	Nyame Ye Ohene	God is King	Majesty and Supremacy of God
	Nyansapo	Wisdom Knot	Wisdom, Ingenuity, Intelligence, Patience
	Odo Nyera Fie Kwan	Love never loses its way home	Power of Love, Faithfulness
	Ohen Adwae	The King's Stool	State, Chieftaincy
	Ohene	King	Wisdom
	Ohene Aniwa	King's Eye	Beauty, Vigilance
	Ohene Tuo	The King's Gun	Greatness
	Okodee Mmowere	Eagle's Talons	Bravery, Strength, Unity
	Okuafo Pa	Good Farmer	Hardwork, Entrepreneurship, Industry, Productivity	Okuafoo pa ne obi a oye nsiyefoo, ono na ose : w'afuo so a, woye ne nyinaa; The good and industrious farmer says: No matter how big your farm is you tend it all.
	Onyakopon Adom Nti Biribiara Beye Yie	By God's grace, all will be well	Hope, Providence, Faith
	Onyakopon Aniwa	God's Eye	Omnipresence of God	Onyakopon aniwa hu asumu asem biara; God's eye seees al secrets
	Onyakopon Ne Yen Ntena	May God be with Us	God's Presence and Protection
	Osidan	The Builder	Creativity
	Osram	The Moon	Patience and Understanding	Osram mmfiti preko nntwareman; It takes the moon some time to go round the earth.
	Osram Ne Nsoromma	The Moon and the Star	Love, Faithfulness, Fondness
	Owo Foro Adobe	Snake Climbing the Palm Tree	Steadfastness, Prudence, Diligence, Performing the Impossible
	Owuo Atwedee	Ladder of Death	Death, Mortal nature of man, Fate	Owu atwedee obaako nforo; All men shall climb the ladder of death.
	Owuo Kum Nyame	Death Killed God	Invincibility of Death, Power of God to Overcome Death	Nyame boo owuo na owuo kum Nyame; na Nyame na ote nanka aduro nti odii owuo so nkonim; God created death and death killed God, yet the Eternal One also created the antidote to the venom of death, and God, therefore, overcame death.
	Pa Gya	Striking of Fire	War
	Pempamsie	Sew in Readiness	Readiness, Steadfastness, Strength and Unity	Pempamsie se, bebebre ahooden ne koroye; That which will not overcome
	Sankofa	Learning From the Past	Wisdom, Using past experiences to build the future	Se wo were fin a wo sankofa a yennkyi; It is not a taboo to return to fetch something you forgot earlier on.
	Sepow	Knife	Justice
	Sesa Woruban	Change your Life	Transformation, A New Beginning
	Sunsum	The Soul	Spirituality, Purity, Everlasting
	Tabon	Paddle	Courage, Hard Work
	Tamfo Bebre	The Enemy Shall Suffer	Jealousy
	Tumi Te Se Kosua	Power is like an Egg	Delicacy of Political Power, Fragility of Democracy, Restraint	Tumi te se kosua, woso mu den a, epae; na se woanso mu yie nso a, efiri wo nsa bo famu ma epae; Power is as fragile as an egg, when held too tightly it may break; but if held too loosely, it may fall.
	Tuo Ne Akofena	Gun and State Sword	Power, Responsibility, Authority, Legitimacy, National Security and Protection, Military Prowess
	Wawa Aba	Seed of the Wawa Tree	Skillfulness
	Wo Nsa Da Mu A	If you have your hands in the dish	Democracy, Pluralism	Wo nsa da mu a, wonni nnya wo; If your hands are in the dish, people do not eat everything and leave you nothing.
	Wuforo Dua Pa A	When You Climb a Good Tree	Support, Cooperation, Encouragement	Wuforo dua pa a na ye pia wo; He who climbs a good tree is encouraged/supported.