Adinkra symbols

Adinkra be symbols wey dey comot from Ghana wey dey represent concepts anaa aphorisms. Dem dey use Adinkra extensively for fabrics insyd, logos den pottery. Dem dey incorporate am for walls den oda architectural features insyd. Adinkra symbols dey appear for sam traditional Akan goldweights top. Dem sana dey carve de symbols for stools top for domestic den ritual use. Tourism make new departures dey use de symbols for items such as T-shirts den jewellery top.

De symbols get sam decorative function but esana dey represent objects wey dey encapsulate evocative messages wey dey convey traditional wisdom, aspects of life, anaa de environment. Chaw symbols dey wey get distinct meanings, wey often dey link plus proverbs. For de words of Kwame Anthony Appiah insyd, na ebe one of de means give "supporting de transmission of a complex and nuanced body of practice and belief".Appiah, Kwame Anthony (1993). In My Father's House: Africa in the Philosophy of Culture (1st paperback ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-506852-8.

 History 
Ebe Bono people of Gyaman wey originally create Adinkra symbols. De Gyaman king, Nana Kwadwo Agyemang Adinkra, wey originally create anaa design dese symbols, wey he name am afta ein body. Na de Bono menners largely dey use de Adinkra symbols for pottery, stools top, etc. Na Gyaman king dey wear Adinkra cloth, wey ein usage spread from Bono Gyaman go Asante den oda Akan kingdoms afta dema defeat. Na edey say na dem dey force de guild designers wey na dem dey design dis cloth give de Kings say make dem teach de Asantes de craft. Gyaman king Nana Kwadwo Agyemang Adinkra ein first son, Apau, wey na he be well versed for de Adinkra craft insyd, dem force am say make he teach more about Adinkra cloths. Oral accounts attest plus de fact say Adinkra Apau teach de process give sam man wey ename be Kwaku Dwaku for sam town wey dey near Kumasi.DeMello, Margo (30 May 2014). Inked: Tattoos and Body Art around the World [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-076-8."Adinkra Symbols | African Themed Weddings | African Wedding Ceremonies | African Wedding Traditions". Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020."History and Origin of Adinkra Symbols". 25 April 2015."Adinkra Symbols and the Rich Akan Culture". African Heritage. 27 August 2014.Boateng, Boatema (2011). The Copyright Thing Doesn't Work Here: Adinkra and Kente Cloth and Intellectual Property in Ghana. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-7002-4.Rucker, Walter C. (2006). The River Flows on: Black Resistance, Culture, and Identity Formation in Early America. LSU Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-3109-1. Ova tym, all Akan people wey dey include de Fante, Akuapem den Akyem all make Adinkra symbols sam major part of dema culture, as na dem all dey originate from de ancient Bono Kingdom.

Dem make de oldest adinkra cloth wey dey survive for 1817 insyd. De cloth dey feature 15 stamped symbols, wey dey include nsroma (stars), dono ntoasuo (double Dono drums), den diamonds. Dem print de patterns plus carved calabash stamps den sam vegetable-based dye. Edey British Museum insyd since 1818, as Thomas E. Bowdich donate am give dem."Adinkra". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2 September 2021."Adinkra Ghanaian Textile is a printed traditional cloth in Ghana". Bellafricana. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2021."cloth | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 2 September 2021.

Dem send de next oldest piece of adinkra textile for 1825 insyd from de Elmina Castle go de royal cabinet of curiosities for De Hague insyd, for response insyd give sam assignment from Major Friedrich Last, wey na dem appoint am as temporary Commander of Dutch Gold Coast. Na he get cloth wey dem commission from de Fante paramount chief of Elmina for William I of de Netherlands, wey na ego explain why de coat of arms of de Netherlands dey ein centre. De oda motifs be typical of de older adinkras. Dem display am now for National Museum of Ethnology wey dey Leiden insyd."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2011

For November 2020 insyd, sam school board wey dey York, Pennsylvania insyd, wey dem ban as "a children's coloring book that featured African Adrinkra [sic] symbols found in fabrics, logos and pottery."Locurto, Tina. "'Afraid to teach': School's book ban targeted Black, Latino authors". York Dispatch. Retrieved 1 December 2023. Dem subsequently overturn de decision."Central York School District Reverses Diversity Ban: 'We Have Heard You'". yorkdispatch.com. Retrieved 29 June 2022.

 Adinkra cloth 
For Akan (Twi) insyd, de term adinkra no really be symbols, but sam particular type of cloth.Christaller, Johann Gottlieb (1881). "adiṅkărá". A Dictionary of the Asante and Fante Language Called Tshi (Chwee, Tw̌i). Basel. p. 84.Kotey, Paul A. (1998). Twi-English/English-Twi Dictionary. New York: Hippocrene Books. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7818-0264-2. Na royalty den spiritual leaders dey wear Adinkra cloths traditionally for funerals den oda very special occasions. For de past insyd na dem be hand-printed for undyed, red, dark brown anaa black hand-woven natural cotton fabric top wey edey depend for de occasion den de wearer ein role; nowadays dem frequently dey mass-produce am for brighter coloured fabrics top.DeMello, Margo (30 May 2014). Inked: Tattoos and Body Art around the World [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-076-8.

 Sample of symbols dem list 
53 adinkra symbols sample dem record den dema meanings
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Adinkra_Rattray.JPG|thumb|Adinkra symbols wey Robert Sutherland Rattray, 1927 record am
+List of symbols den InformationNumberSymbol NameDem mean literallyFurther DetailsSymbols wey dey relate1Abantwo-storied house, castlena de Kong of Gyaman per wey formerly don dis design4Adinkira 'henede Adinkira king'chief' of all dis Adinkira designs8Agyindawurude agyin tree ein gongde tree ein juice of dat name wey sumtyms dem squeeze for gong insyd wey dem say e go make de sound pleasing to de spiritsAkamedible plant, possibly yam9Akobende war-horn12Akoko nan tia 'ba, na nkum 'bahen dey tread upon chickens buh no dey kill dem13Akomaheart, plus cross for de centre[None listed]No. 1314AKOMA NTOSOde hearts dem join18Ayade fernde word sanso dey mean 'I no dey fear you', 'I be independent of you' den de wearer wey dey don am fi imply dis20BI NKA BIno bro for bite de oda23DAME-DAMEname of board gamesymbol of intelligence den ingenuity25Donode dono drum26Dono ntoasuode double dono drums27Duafede wooden comb28Dwenini abende ram ein horns30Epahandcuffs34Fihankrade circular house35Se die fofoo pe, ne se gyinantwi abo bediewhat de yellow-flowered fofoo plant dey want be dat de gyinantwi seeds for turn blackBono dey say. One of de cotton cloth designs dey bear de same name. De fofoo, de botanical name wey be Bidens pilosa, get small yellow flower, wey, wen e drop ein petals, dey turn go black spiky seed. Jealous person wey dem say. According to Ayensu (1978),  de gyinantwi sanso dey refer to Bidens pilosa.Ayensu, Edward S. (1978). Medicinal plants of West Africa. Algonac, Mich.: Reference Publications. p. 101. ISBN 9780917256073.37Funtunfunefu DenkyemfunefuSiamese crocodilesDem dey share one stomach yet dem dey fight ova food38Gyawu Atikode back of Gyawu ein headNa Gyawu be sub-chief of Gyaman wey for de Adae Kesse ceremony dey say dem shave ein hair for dis fashion insyd39Gye Nyame'Except God' anaa 'God per'41Hye wo nhyeHe wey go burn you make dem no burn am44Kojo Biaden47Papani amma yenhu KramoDe (chaw) people wey dey do good dey prevent we make we know who really be Mohammedansas dem enjoin de adherents of Islam make dem do good works for de community insyd, wey non-Muslims wey dey increase sanso dey do so, we no longer fi use dat criterion distinguish Muslims wey dey live amongst us49Kuntinkantanbent den spread outdem dey use kuntinkantan for de sense of 'make you no boast, make you no be arrogant'50[None Listed]dem copy from EuropeansNon listedKwatakye atikofor de back of Kwatakye ein headNa Kwatakye be war captain of one of de Gyaman kings; for de Adae Kesse ceremony dem say he cut ein hair for dis fashion insydNon listedMmrafo ani asede keloids for Hausa man top55Mmra Kradode Hausa man ein lock56Musuyidiesumtin dem take komot evilcloth wey dis design dem stamp upon am besyd de couch wey dey sleep of de Gyaman King, den every morninti wen he rise he place ein left foot for top three tyms58Mpuannumfive tufts (of hair)62Nkonsonkonsonlinks of chain63Nkotimsefuopuacertain attendants for de Queen Mother top wey dress dema hair for dis fashion insyd. Similar to swastika.66Nkyimkyimde pattern dem twist68Nsaafrom design of dis name dem find for nsa cloths top69Nsirewacowries70Nsoroma / Nsorommakiddie of de Sky / Kiddie of de Heavensdey refer to de saying: Oba Nyankon soroma te Nyame so na onte ne ho so, 'Lyk de star, de kiddie of de Supreme Being, I dey rest plus God den I no dey depend upon my body.' / na de pattern be for de King of Gyaman ein pillow top71Ma te; MasieI hear (wat you say); I hide amdis dey extol de virtue of you be able keep confidenceNon listedNyame, biribi wo soro, ma no me ka me nsaO God, everytin wey dey above, permit make my hand touch amna dem stamp de pattern for paper top wey dem hang above de lintel of door for de palace insyd. Na de Gyaman King use dey touch lintel, then ein forehand, then ein breast, wey dey repeat dis words three tyms74Nyame duaaltar to de Sky God76Nyame nwu na ma wuMay Nyame die before I dieNon listedObi nka obieI offend nobro widout cause84Ohene niwa(insyd) de king ein little eyesTo be for de king ein favour insyd85Ohen' tuode king ein gun86Kodie mmowerewade eagle ein talons96Sankofaturn back den fetch am97Sankofaturn back den fetch am98Sepowknife dem thrust thru de cheeks of mandem dey cam execute de man make dem prevent ein invoking curse for de king top

 References 

Category:Akan language
Category:Ashanti people
Category:Akan people
Category:Ghanaian culture
Category:Proto-writing
Category:Symbols
Category:Textile patterns
Category:Visual motifs
Category:Writing systems of Africa