Adinkra cloth has played a significant part in furthering the organization of social and political life in the Akan society. Another significant function of the adinkra cloth is evident from an analysis of the color background as well as the constituent symbols that are incorporated in the design of the cloth. The colors and the constituent symbols of the adinkra cloth evoke complex concepts that relate to social and political organization, beliefs and attitudes, moral and ethical issues about the self and one's responsibilities, and knowledge and education. There are several of the adinkra symbols that are linked to ananses e m - folk stories. Nkanea Several of the symbols in the adinkra cloths record social changes that have been brought about by both external and internal factors.
Some symbols point to selective borrowing of ideas from other societies.
It has been incorporated not only in the language, but also into important political as well as funeral rituals of the Akan. During funerals the gun is fired in the morning to signal the beginning of the funeral, and is fired again in the evening to mark the end of the funeral for the day. O hene nya ahotenafo pa a, ne ber e so dwo . Obra kwan ye nkyinkyimiie . This symbol emphasizes the need for critical appraisal and reappraisal of one's situation in life.