Adinkra Symbols of West Africa

ADINKRAHENE 'Chief of the Adinkra symbols'	This is a symbol of greatness, charisma and leadership. This symbol is noted to have played an inspiring role in the designing of other symbols. The above reason makes the symbol the greatest among all symbols. The symbol signifies the need to play inspiring and leadership roles.

AKOBEN 'War horn'	This is a symbol of loyalty, devotion and service. Akoben is a wind instrument used in surmoning warriors to the battlefield. The symbol signifies alertness and readiness to serve a good cause. It encourages people to be ready at all times to serve their nations even in times of war. It also stresses the need for loyalty to ones nation.

AKOKO NAN 'The leg of a hen.'	This is a symbol of mercy and nurturing. This literally means that, 'The hen treads on its chicks, but it does not kill them.' This symbol signifies the protective, corrective and loving nature of mothers for their children. Children are reprimanded and punished when they go wrong. These punishments are corrective measures, which serve as good reformation. The symbol teaches the importance of nurturing children and warns against pampering them. It also encourages showing mercy to offefnders.

AKOMA 'The heart'	This is a symbol of patience and tolerance. The heart is believed to be responsible for a person's emotions, for example anger, hatred, love, joy, grief etc. A person is said to 'have a heart in his stomach', when that person is very tolerant. The symbol teaches the importance of tolerance in the face of provocation. It also stresses the need for patience in all endeavours of life.

AKOMA NTOSO 'Linked heart'	This is a symbol of understanding and agreement. This symbol signifies understanding and agreement, which fosters togetherness between married couples, friends and other relations. The symbol encourages people to enter into agreements in order for them to become committed.

BIN NKA BI 'No one should bite the other'	This is a symbol of peace and harmony. This symbol signifies the peaceful co-existence among people devoid of provocation, retaliation and strife. This symbol cautions people against social vices like back-biting, cheating etc. It therefore encourages fair play and cordiality which brings about peaceful co-existence.

DAME-DAME 'Draught'	This is a symbol of intelligence and ingenuity. This is a chequered board game for two players. It is a game that is very mind tasking. This symbol signifies the power of the mind to reason and solve problems intelligently and positively. This symbol encourages the exercising of the brain in order for it to be reactivated. It also stresses the need to take sound and reasonable decision.

DENKYEM 'crocodile'	This is a symbol of adaptability. The crocodile lives in water but it does not breath water, it breaths air. The crocodile is noted for its ability to stay both on land and in water. The symbol signifies the tendency to adjust oneself to all forms of conditions and situations in life. The symbol advices and ecourages people to adapt themselves to changing circumstances, especially those which seems difficult and beyond their control.

DWENNIMMEN 'ram's horns'	This is a symbol of humility and strength. The ram is noted for its strength when it engages itself in a fight against its adversary. However, it submits itself humbly for slaughter. The symbol signifies modesty and toughness in the character and nature of people. The symbol stresses the need to humble oneself in every aspect of life in order to learn and acquire knowledge.

EPA 'handcuffs'	This is a symbol of captivity and slavery. Handcuffs were introduced as a result of the slave trade. It later became popular among the chiefs in cuffing offenders of the law. Anyone who is handcuffed becomes a slave and captive of the captor. The symbol reminds offenders of the uncompromising nature of the law. It however discourages all forms of slavery.

ESE NE TEKREMA 'the teeth and the tongue'	This is a symbol of friendship and interdependence. The teeth and the tongue are both located in the mouth. They play different but interdependent roles. They even 'fight' sometimes, but still live together. This symbolic representation is likened to marriage and other human relationships in general. It signifies harmonious and interdependent relationship between people and nations. The symbol advises married couples to complement each other in all aspects of their marriage. It also encourages friendship and assistance.

FIHANKRA 'house/compound'	This is a symbol of security and safety. This typical Akan architecture normally has only one main entrance, which serves also as an exit. This symbol reflects security, safety, solidarity and communality enjoyed in the company of family members who live in a compund house. The symbol stresses the need for people to live together and serve as each others keeper. It also fosters cordial relationship.

FUNTUNFUNEFU DENKYEMFUNEFU 'Siamese crocodiles'	This is a symbol of democracy and unity in diversity. These reptiles share a common belly yet they fight over food. This symbol signifies the unification of people of different cultural backgrounds for achieving common objectives despite their divergent views and opinions about the way of life. The symbol stresses the importance of democracy in all aspects of life. It also encourages oneness of humanity. It therefore discourages tribalism.

GYE NYAME 'except for God'	This is a symbol of the supremacy of God. God is regarded as the creator of the world and humanity and therefore must be reverned and worshiped. The symbol reflects the supremacy, power, and dominion of God over all situations and creations. He is therefore regarded as the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.

HWE MU DUA 'measuring stick'	This is a symbol of examination and quality control. The symbol signifies the check on mediocrity in quality and abilities, and to provide remedial measures in the form of quality control. The symbol encourages thorough examination of all aspects of human life and endeavours in order to achieve perfection. It also encourages manufacturers to produce high quality goods.

HYE WON HYE 'that which does not burn'	This is a symbol of imperishability and endurrance. Some traditional priests were noted for their fire dancing abilities without burning their feet. In the same way, other individuals are able to endure and overcom all forms of difficulties. This symbol signifies the tendency to withstand pain and other hardships.

KINTINKANTAN 'puffed up extravogance'	This is a symbol of arrogance and extravagance. This symbolizes the nature of some individuals who are so arrogantly pompous and bossy. The symbol serves as a warning against boastfulness and disregard for other people.

MMUSUYIDEE 'that which removes bad luck'	This is a symbol of good fortune and sanctity. Various items are used as sacrifices and offereing to God for him to ward off evil powers and thoughts and also bring about good omen, uprightness, and sanctity of man. This symbol encourages regular request for good omen from God. It also stresses the need for confession and repentance of ones sins.

NKONSONKONSON 'chain link'	This is a symbol of unity and human relations. A chain is made up of several individual metal units linked together. The strength of the chain depends on the individual units. When one unit becomes weak, it causes a break in the chain. This symbol signifies the strong bond between people of common blood relations which is difficult to break apart. This belief also includes the ancestors who are constantly protecting the living. The symbol reminds everybody to give a helping hand to strengthen the community in which he or she lives. It also encourages the veneration of the ancestors in order for them to keep in touch with the living. It teaches that in unity lies strength.

NKYINKYIM 'twisting'	This is a symbol of initiative, dynamism and versatility. This literally means, to turn oneself around in all aspects of life. This symbol signifies the ability to take initiative and play many roles, adjust and withstand difficulties. The symbol advises people to endure hardships and be committed to their duty. It also stresses the need to live exemplary lives for others to emulate.

NSOROMMA 'child of the heavens'	This is a symbol of guardianship. This symbol signifies the absolute belief in God's watchfulness over mankind and therefore man's total dependence on him for guidance in all endeavours of life. The symbol reminds people to regard God as their father. It also encourages good deeds and avoidance of evil. It again gives a sense of confidence and reliability.

NTESIE 'I have heard and kept it'	This is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. This symbol signifies the need for imbibing knowledge prudently. The symbol teaches the omportance of imbibing all forms of information prudently in order to acquire wisdom and knowledge. It stresses the importance of keeping secrets and also advises people to ponder over issues before making decisions. It however warns against gossiping and rumour mongering.

NYAME BIRIBI WO SORO 'God is in the heavens'	This is a symbol of hope. This symbol signifies the belief in the sky as God's dwelling place. God's abode, therefore, has all the blessings that he offers to those who request for them. There is therefore the belief that God is good and has the ability to answer prayers. This symbol encourages the requisition of favours from God through prayers and faith. It also stresses the need to be optimistic and positive minded.

NYAME NNWU NA MAWU 'God never dies, therefore I cannot die'	This is a symbol of perpetual existence. This symbol signifies the immortality of man's soul which is believed to be part of God's. After death the soul returns to God and stays perpetually, because God never dies. The symbol stresses the belief in life after death and the need to lead exemplary lives to attain an ancestral status after death.

OHENE NIWA 'In the King's Eye'	This is a symbol of vigilance and wariness. It is believed that nothing can be hidden from a king. This is because the king has many informants (eyes). The symbol teaches the need for wariness and vigilance in order not to be taken off guard. It also serves as a warning to those who engage in dubious activities to desist from them.

OWO FORO ADOBE 'snake climbing the raffia tree'	This is a symbol of steadfastness, prudence and diligence. It is normally difficult for snakes to climb thorny trees, therefore when a snake does that it has done an impossible task. This symbol signifies the accomplishment of unusual and impossible feats of bravery. The symbol encourages people to be persistent and diligent in all their undertakings in order to achieve success.

SANKOFA 'return and get it'	This is a symbol of positive reversion and revival. This symbol signifies the importance of returning in time to bring to the present useful past cultural values, which are needed today. It is believed that progress is based on the right use of the positive contributions of the past. This symbol teaches the wisdon in learning from the past, which helps in building the future. It also teaches people to cherish and value their culture and avoid its adulteration.

SUNSUM 'The soul'	This is a symbol of spirituality. It is believed that the soul exists forever because of its spiritual nature. The symbol reminds people of the spiritual element inherent in them which must be rekindled through prayers, sacrafice and libation to the Supreme Being.

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