The Racial Wealth Gap in America

Adinkra Symbols of West Africa

Adinkra Symbols of West Africa:

gye nyamesankofasankofaadinkrahenefuntunfunefu denkyemfunefudenkyemdwennimmenakoma ntoasonyame ntinyame biribi wo soronkinkyimnsorommabin nka biakokonanfihankraebanakobennkonsonnkonsonowo foro adobeakomahwemuduahye wonhye
 
tamfo bebreduafemmusuyideeosram ne nsorommakintinkantanbese sakaasase ye durumpataronsaankyimusesa worubanepadame dameese ne tekremanyame nnwu na mawunyansapoodo nnyew fie kwanmate masiefofoowuo atwedee
 
wawa abaayanyame duamframadannea ope se obedi henewoforo dua pa awo nsa da mu aboa me na kete pame ware wo
 

West African Wisdom: Adinkra Symbols & Meanings

ADINKRA INDEX

The small symbols at the top of the page are also linked.
 Bulleted symbols include photo(s).
 
 

ADINKRAHENE

"chief of adinkra symbols"
 
greatness, charisma, leadership
 

AKOBEN

 

"war horn"
 
vigilance, wariness

AKOFENA


"sword of war"

courage, valor
 

AKOKONAN

"the leg of a hen"
 
mercy, nurturing
 

AKOMA

"the heart"
 
patience & tolerance
 

AKOMA NTOSO

 

"linked hearts"
 
understanding, agreement
 

ANANSE NTONTAN

 
"spider's web"

wisdom, creativity
 

ASASE YE DURU

 
"the Earth has weight"

divinity of Mother Earth


"fern"

endurance, resourcefulness
 

BESE SAKA

 
"sack of cola nuts"

affluence, abundance, unity
 

BI NKA BI

 

"no one should bite the other"
 
peace, harmony
 

BOA ME NA
ME MMOA WO

 
"help me and let me help you"

cooperation, interdependence

 

DAME-DAME

 

name of a board game
 
intelligence, ingenuity
 

DENKYEM

 

"crocodile"
 
adaptability
 

DUAFE

 
"wooden comb"

beauty, hygiene, feminine qualities
 

DWENNIMMEN

"ram's horns"

humility and strength
 

EBAN

 

"fence"
 
love, safety, security
 

EPA

 

"handcuffs"
 
law, justice, slavery
 

ESE NE TEKREMA

 

"the teeth and the tongue"
 
friendship, interdependence
fawohodie 

FAWOHODIE


"independence"

independence, freedom, emancipation
 

FIHANKRA

"house/compound"
 
security, safety
 

FOFO

 
"a yellow-flowered plant"

jealousy, envy
 

FUNTUNFUNEFU
DENKYEMFUNEFU

 

"siamese crocodiles"
 
democracy, unity in diversity
 

GYE NYAME

"except for God"
 
supremacy of God
 

HWEMUDUA

"measuring stick"
 
examination, quality control
 

HYE WONHYE

"that which cannot be burnt"
 
imperishability, endurance
keta pa 

KETE PA

 
"good bed"

good marriage
kintinkantan 

KINTINKANTAN

"puffed up extravagance"
 
arrogance, extravagance

KWATAKYE ATIKO


"hairstyle of Kwatakye, a war hero"

bravery, valor
mate masie 

MATE MASIE

 

"what I hear, I keep"
 
wisdom, knowledge, prudence
me ware wo 

ME WARE WO

 
"I shall marry you"

commitment, perseverance
mframadan 

MFRAMADAN


"wind-resistant house"

fortitude, preparedness
 

MMERE DANE


"time changes"

change, life's dynamics
 

MMUSUYIDEE

 

"that which removes ill luck"
 
good fortune, sanctity
 

MPATAPO

 
"knot of reconciliation"
 
peacemaking, reconciliation
 

MPUANNUM


"five tufts" (of hair)

priestly office, loyalty, adroitness
 

NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, OHU

 
"he who does not know can know from learning"

knowledge, life-long education
 

NEA OPE SE OBEDI HENE

 
"he who wants to be king"

service, leadership
 

NKONSONKONSON

"chain links"
 
unity, human relations
 

NYAME DUA


"tree of god"

God's protection and presence
 

NKYIMU

 

the crossed divisions made on adinkra cloth before printing
 
skillfulness, precision
 

NKYINKYIM

"twistings"
 
initiative, dynamism, versatility
 

NSAA

 

type of hand-woven cloth
 
excellence, genuineness, authenticity
 

NSOROMMA

"child of the heavens"
 
guardianship
 

NYAME BIRIBI
WO SORO

"God is in the heavens"
 
hope
 

NYAME NNWU
NA MAWU

"God never dies, therefore I cannot die"
 
life after death
 

NYAME NTI

 
"by God's grace"
 
faith & trust in God
 

NYAME YE OHENE

 
"God is King"

majesty and supremacy of God
 

NYANSAPO

 

"wisdom knot"
 
wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience
 

ODO NNYEW
FIE KWAN

"love never loses its way home"
 
power of love

OKODEE MMOWERE


"talons of the eagle"

bravery, strength
 

ONYANKOPON ADOM NTI BIRIBIARA BEYE YIE


"By God's grace, all will be well"

hope, providence, faith
 

OSRAM NE NSOROMMA

 

"the moon and the star"
 
love, faithfulness, harmony
 

OWO FORO ADOBE

 

"snake climbing the raffia tree"
 
steadfastness, prudence, diligence
 

OWUO ATWEDEE

 
"the ladder of death"
 
mortality
 

PEMPAMSIE

 
"sew in readiness"

readiness, steadfastness
 

SANKOFA

"return and get it"
 
learn from the past
 

SANKOFA

(alternate version)
  
 

SESA WO SUBAN

 

"I change or transform my life"
 
transformation
 

TAMFO BEBRE

"the enemy will stew in his own juice"
 
jealousy


"seed of the wawa tree"

hardiness, toughness, perseverance
 

WOFORO DUA PA A

 
"when you climb a good tree"

support, cooperation
 

WO NSA DA MU A

 
"if your hands are in the dish"

democracy, pluralism