Adinkra is one of the highly valued hand-printed and hand-embroidered cloths in Ghana. Its origin is traced to the Asante people of Ghana and the Gyaman people of Cote' d'lvoire (Ivory Coast). However, the production and use of Adinkra have come to be more associated with the Asante people than any other group of people. Around the 19th Century, the Asante people developed their unique art of adinkra printing. Adinkra cloths were made and used exclusively by the royalty and spiritual leaders for very important sacred ceremonies and rituals.

In modern times, however, adinkra cloths are used for a wide range of social activities. In addition to its sacred usage, it is also used to make clothing for such special occasions as festivals, church attendace, weddings, naming ceremonies and initiation rites. Today, designers use adinkra symbols in creating a wide range of products including clothing accessories, interior decoration, packages and book covers.

Each of the motifs that make up the corpus of adinkra symbolism has a name and meaning derived either from a proverb, a historical event, human attitude, animal behavior, plant life, forms and shapes of inanimate and man-made objects. These are graphically rendered in stylized geometric shapes. Meanings of motifs may be categorized as follows: Aesthetics, Ethics, Human Relations and Religious concepts. In its totality, adinkra symbolism is a visual representation of social thought relating to the history, philosophy and religious beliefs of the Akan peoples of Ghana and Cote' d'lvoire.

These are some of the most commonly used symbols, their names, sources of derivation, their literal translations and their symbolic meanings. Symbols are grouped according to the sources of derivation, namely: Creatures. (Animals, Birds and Insects), Celestial Bodies, The Human Body, Man-made objects, Non-figurative shapes and Plant life. Symbols not featured here are on the Adinkra poster which you can purchase.

Below are some Adinkra Symbols;

	AKOBEN (war horn - symbol of vigilance and wariness ) Akoben is a horn which was used to sound a battle cry.
	TAMFOA BEBRE (the enemy will stew in his own juice) symbol of importance of learning from the past
	SESA WORUBAN (I change or transform my life) This symbol combines two separate adinkra symbols, the "Morning Star" which can mean a new start to the day, placed inside the wheel, representing rotation or independent movement.
	SANKOFA (return and get it) symbol of importance of learning from the past
	WOW FORO ADOBE (snake climbing the raffia tree) Because of its thorns, the raffia tree is a very dangerous challenge to the snake. His ability to climb it is a model of persistence and prudence.
	ODO NNYEW FIE KWAN (love never loses its way home) symbol of the power of love
	NYAME NNWU NA MAWU (God never dies, therefore I cannot die) This signifies the immortality of man's soul, believed to be a part of God. Because the soul rests with God after death, it cannot die.
	NYAME BIRIBI WO SORO (God is in the heavens) A reminder that God's dwelling place is in the heaven, where he can listen to all prayers.
	NSOROMMA (child of the heavens) A reminder that God is the father and watches over all people.
	NKYINKYIM (twistings) symbol of initiative, dynamism and versatility

More Adinkra Symbols.....