Adinkra
|
Symbol Name
|
Description |
Meaning |
|
adinkrahene |
"chief of adinkra symbols" |
greatness, charisma, leadership |
|
akoben |
"war horn" |
vigilance, wariness |
|
akokonan |
"the leg of a hen" |
mercy, nurturing |
|
akoma |
"the heart" |
patience & tolerance |
|
akoma ntoso |
"linked hearts" |
understanding, agreement |
|
asase ye duru |
"the Earth has weight" |
divinity of mother earth |
|
aya |
"fern" |
endurance, resourcefulness |
|
bese saka |
"sack of cola nuts" |
affluence, abundance, unity |
|
boa me na me mmoa wo |
"help me and let me help you" |
cooperation, interdependence |
|
dame dame |
"Name of a board game" |
intelligence, ingenuity |
|
denkyem |
"crocodile" |
adaptability |
|
duafe |
"wooden comb" |
beauty, hygiene, feminine qualities |
|
dwennimmen |
"ram's horns" |
humility and strength |
|
eban |
"fence" |
love, safety, security |
|
epa |
"handcuffs" |
law, justice, slavery |
|
ese ne tekrema |
"the teeth and the tongue" |
friendship, interdependence |
|
fihankra |
"house/compound" |
security, safety |
|
fofo |
"a yellow-flowered plant" |
jealousy, envy |
|
funtunfunefu, denkyemfunefu
|
"siamese crocodiles" |
democracy, unity in diversity |
|
gye nyame |
"except for God" |
supremacy of God |
|
hwemudua |
"measuring stick" |
examination, quality control |
|
hye wonhye |
"that which cannot be burnt" |
imperishability, endurance |
|
kete pa |
"good bed" |
good marriage |
|
kintinkantan |
"puffed up extravagance" |
arrogance, extravagance |
|
mate masie |
"what I hear, I keep" |
wisdom, knowledge, prudence |
|
me waro wo |
"I shall marry you" |
commitment, perseverance |
|
mframadan |
"wind-resistant house" |
fortitude, preparedness |
|
mmusuyidee |
"that which removes ill luck" |
good fortune, sanctity |
|
mpatapo |
"knot of reconciliation" |
peacemaking, reconciliation |
|
nea ope se bedi hene |
"he who wants to be king" |
service, leadership |
|
nkonsonkonson |
"chain links" |
God's protection and presence |
|
nkyimu |
the crossed divisions made on adinkra cloth before printing |
skillfulness, precision |
|
nkyinkyim |
"twistings" |
initiative, dynamism, versatility |
|
nsaa |
type of hand-woven cloth |
excellence, genuineness, authenticity |
|
nsoromma |
"child of the heavens" |
guardianship |
|
nyame biribi wo soro |
"God is in the heavens" |
hope |
|
nyame dua |
"tree of god" |
god's protection and presence |
|
nyame nnwu na mawu |
"God never dies, therefore I cannot die" |
life after death |
|
nyame nti |
"by God's grace" |
faith & trust in God |
|
nyansapo |
"wisdom knot" |
wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience |
|
odo nnyew fie kwan |
"love never loses its way home" |
power of love |
|
osram ne nsoromma |
"the moon and the star" |
love, faithfulness, harmony |
|
owo foro adobe |
"snake climbing the raffia tree" |
steadfastness, prudence, diligence |
|
owou atwedee |
"the ladder of death" |
mortality |
|
sankofa |
"return and get it" |
learn from the past |
|
sankofa |
"return and get it" |
learn from the past |
|
sesa woruban |
"I change or transform my life" |
transformation |
|
tamfo bebre |
"the enemy will stew in his own juice" |
jealousy |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
