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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).
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ADINKRAHENE |
"chief of adinkra symbols" |
greatness, charisma, leadership |
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AKOBEN |
"war horn" |
vigilance, wariness |
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AKOFENA |
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"sword of war" |
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courage, valor |
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AKOKONAN |
• |
"the leg of a hen" |
mercy, nurturing |
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AKOMA |
• |
"the heart" |
patience & tolerance |
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AKOMA NTOSO |
"linked hearts" |
understanding, agreement |
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ANANSE NTONTAN |
"spider's web" |
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wisdom, creativity |
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ASASE YE DURU |
"the Earth has weight" |
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divinity of Mother Earth |
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"fern" |
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endurance, resourcefulness |
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BESE SAKA |
"sack of cola nuts" |
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affluence, abundance, unity |
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BI NKA BI |
"no one should bite the other" |
peace, harmony |
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BOA ME NA |
"help me and let me help you" |
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cooperation, interdependence |
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DAME-DAME |
name of a board game |
intelligence, ingenuity |
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DENKYEM |
"crocodile" |
adaptability |
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DUAFE |
"wooden comb" |
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beauty, hygiene, feminine qualities |
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DWENNIMMEN |
• |
"ram's horns" |
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humility and strength |
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EBAN |
"fence" |
love, safety, security |
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EPA |
"handcuffs" |
law, justice, slavery |
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ESE NE TEKREMA |
"the teeth and the tongue" |
friendship, interdependence |
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FAWOHODIE |
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"independence" |
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independence, freedom, emancipation |
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FIHANKRA |
• |
"house/compound" |
security, safety |
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FOFO |
"a yellow-flowered plant" |
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jealousy, envy |
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FUNTUNFUNEFU |
"siamese crocodiles" |
democracy, unity in diversity |
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GYE NYAME |
• |
"except for God" |
supremacy of God |
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HWEMUDUA |
• |
"measuring stick" |
examination, quality control |
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HYE WONHYE |
• |
"that which cannot be burnt" |
imperishability, endurance |
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KETE PA |
"good bed" |
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good marriage |
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KINTINKANTAN |
• |
"puffed up extravagance" |
arrogance, extravagance |
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KWATAKYE ATIKO |
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"hairstyle of Kwatakye, a war hero" |
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bravery, valor |
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MATE MASIE |
"what I hear, I keep" |
wisdom, knowledge, prudence |
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ME WARE WO |
"I shall marry you" |
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commitment, perseverance |
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MFRAMADAN |
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"wind-resistant house" |
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fortitude, preparedness |
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MMERE DANE |
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"time changes" |
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change, life's dynamics |
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MMUSUYIDEE |
"that which removes ill luck" |
good fortune, sanctity |
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MPATAPO |
"knot of reconciliation" |
peacemaking, reconciliation |
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MPUANNUM |
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"five tufts" (of hair) |
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priestly office, loyalty, adroitness |
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NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, OHU |
"he who does not know can know from learning" |
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knowledge, life-long education |
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NEA OPE SE OBEDI HENE |
"he who wants to be king" |
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service, leadership |
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NKONSONKONSON |
• |
"chain links" |
unity, human relations |
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NYAME DUA |
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"tree of god" |
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God's protection and presence |
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NKYIMU |
the crossed divisions made on adinkra cloth before printing |
skillfulness, precision |
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NKYINKYIM |
• |
"twistings" |
initiative, dynamism, versatility |
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NSAA |
type of hand-woven cloth |
excellence, genuineness, authenticity |
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NSOROMMA |
• |
"child of the heavens" |
guardianship |
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NYAME BIRIBI |
• |
"God is in the heavens" |
hope |
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NYAME NNWU |
• |
"God never dies, therefore I cannot die" |
life after death |
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NYAME NTI |
"by God's grace" |
faith & trust in God |
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NYAME YE OHENE |
"God is King" |
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majesty and supremacy of God |
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NYANSAPO |
"wisdom knot" |
wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience |
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ODO NNYEW |
• |
"love never loses its way home" |
power of love |
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OKODEE MMOWERE |
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"talons of the eagle" |
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bravery, strength |
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ONYANKOPON ADOM NTI BIRIBIARA BEYE YIE |
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"By God's grace, all will be well" |
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hope, providence, faith |
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OSRAM NE NSOROMMA |
"the moon and the star" |
love, faithfulness, harmony |
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OWO FORO ADOBE |
"snake climbing the raffia tree" |
steadfastness, prudence, diligence |
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OWUO ATWEDEE |
"the ladder of death" |
mortality |
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PEMPAMSIE |
"sew in readiness" |
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readiness, steadfastness |
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SANKOFA |
• |
"return and get it" |
learn from the past |
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SANKOFA |
• |
(alternate version) |
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SESA WO SUBAN |
"I change or transform my life" |
transformation |
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TAMFO BEBRE |
• |
"the enemy will stew in his own juice" |
jealousy |
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"seed of the wawa tree" |
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hardiness, toughness, perseverance |
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WOFORO DUA PA A |
"when you climb a good tree" |
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support, cooperation |
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WO NSA DA MU A |
"if your hands are in the dish" |
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democracy, pluralism |
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| > Adinkra Symbol Index < | |
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