Studio of Ptah Jewelry Cohome

Adinkra Symbols Chart

Adinkra

Symbol Name

Description

Meaning
adinkrahene
adinkrahene
"chief of adinkra symbols"
greatness, charisma, leadership
akoben
akoben
"war horn"
vigilance, wariness
akokonan
akokonan
"the leg of a hen"
mercy, nurturing
akoma
akoma
"the heart"
patience & tolerance
akoma ntoso
akoma ntoso
"linked hearts"
understanding, agreement
asase ye duru
asase ye duru
"the Earth has weight"
divinity of mother earth
aya
aya
"fern"
endurance, resourcefulness
bese saka
bese saka
"sack of cola nuts"
affluence, abundance, unity
boa me na me mmoa wo
boa me na me mmoa wo
"help me and let me help you"
cooperation, interdependence
dame dame
dame dame
"Name of a board game"
intelligence, ingenuity
denkyem
denkyem
"crocodile"
adaptability
duafe
duafe
"wooden comb"
beauty, hygiene, feminine qualities
dwennimmen
dwennimmen
"ram's horns"
humility and strength
eban
eban
"fence"
love, safety, security
epa
epa
"handcuffs"
law, justice, slavery
ese ne tekrema
ese ne tekrema
"the teeth and the tongue"
friendship, interdependence
fihankra
fihankra
"house/compound"
security, safety
fofo
fofo
"a yellow-flowered plant"
jealousy, envy
funtunfunefu, denkyemfunefu

funtunfunefu, denkyemfunefu
"siamese crocodiles"
democracy, unity in diversity
gye nyame
gye nyame
"except for God"
supremacy of God
hwemudua
hwemudua
"measuring stick"
examination, quality control
hye wonhye
hye wonhye
"that which cannot be burnt"
imperishability, endurance
kete pa
kete pa
"good bed"
good marriage
kintinkantan
kintinkantan
"puffed up extravagance"
arrogance, extravagance
mate masie
mate masie
"what I hear, I keep"
wisdom, knowledge, prudence
me waro wo
me waro wo
"I shall marry you"
commitment, perseverance
mframadan
mframadan
"wind-resistant house"
fortitude, preparedness
mmusuyidee
mmusuyidee
"that which removes ill luck"
good fortune, sanctity
mpatapo
mpatapo
"knot of reconciliation"
peacemaking, reconciliation
nea ope se bedi hene
nea ope se bedi hene
"he who wants to be king"
service, leadership
nkonsonkonson
nkonsonkonson
"chain links"
God's protection and presence
nkyimu
nkyimu
the crossed divisions made on adinkra cloth before printing
skillfulness, precision
nkyinkyim
nkyinkyim
"twistings"
initiative, dynamism, versatility
nsaa
nsaa
type of hand-woven cloth
excellence, genuineness, authenticity
nsoromma
nsoromma
"child of the heavens"
guardianship
nyame biribi wo soro
nyame biribi wo soro
"God is in the heavens"
hope
nyame dua
nyame dua
"tree of god"
god's protection and presence
nyame nnwu na mawu
nyame nnwu na mawu
"God never dies, therefore I cannot die"
life after death
nyame nti
nyame nti
"by God's grace"
faith & trust in God
nyansapo
nyansapo
"wisdom knot"
wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience
odo nnyew fie kwan
odo nnyew fie kwan
"love never loses its way home"
power of love
osram ne nsoromma
osram ne nsoromma
"the moon and the star"
love, faithfulness, harmony
owo foro adobe
owo foro adobe
"snake climbing the raffia tree"
steadfastness, prudence, diligence
owou atwedee
owou atwedee
"the ladder of death"
mortality
sankofa
sankofa
"return and get it"
learn from the past
sankofa
sankofa
"return and get it"
learn from the past
sesa woruban
sesa woruban
"I change or transform my life"
transformation
tamfo bebre
tamfo bebre
"the enemy will stew in his own juice"
jealousy
wawa aba
wawa aba
"seed of the wawa tree"
hardiness, toughness, perseverance
woforo dua pa a
"when you climb a good tree"
support, cooperation
wo nsa da me a
"if your hands are in the dish"
democracy