Adinkra Symbols and Meanings

Adinkra are visual symbols with historical and philosophical significance originally printed on
cloth which royals wore to important ceremonies. Originating from the Gyaman people of Ghana
and la Côte d’Ivoire, the symbols have assumed global importance and are now found in logos,
clothes, furniture, sculpture, earthenware pots, and many others.

Saturated with meaning, these symbols have come to symbolize the richness of Akan culture and
serve as a shorthand for communicating deep truths in visual form. As an example, the fact that
most universities in Ghana use at least one Adinkra symbol in their logo demonstrates the
gravitas their use has come to symbolize.

List of Adinkra Symbols and Meanings

N
Symbol Name Meaning
o.

Except
God. A
symbol
expressing
the
omnipotenc
e of God.
Probably
the most
Gye popular
1
Nyame Adinkra
symbol. It
is featured
on Ghana's
largest-
denominati
on
banknote,
the 200 cedi
note.
 Go back
and get it.
A symbol
of the
wisdom of
learning
from the
past to
build for
the future.
From the
Akan
2 Sankofa proverb,
"Se wo
were fi na
wosan kofa
a yenkyiri,"
meaning,
"It is not
taboo to go
back for
what you
forgot (or
left
behind)."

Another
3 Sankofa Sankofa
symbol
 King of the
Adinkra
symbols. A
symbol for
authority,
leadership,
and
charisma.
Also a
symbol for
Adinkrahe qualities
4
ne associated
with kings.
Adinkrahen
e is
reportedly
the
inspiration
for the
design of
the other
symbols.

5 Dwennim Ram's
men horns. A
symbol of
strength (in
mind, body,
and soul),
humility,
wisdom,
and
learning.
This
symbol
features
prominently
in the logo
of the
University
of Ghana,
Ghana's
first and
 largest
university.

6 Funtumfun Conjoined
efu crocodiles.
Denkyemf A symbol
unefu of unity in
diversity
giving a
common
destiny;
sharing;
from the
proverb,
"Funtumfra
fu
denkyemfra
fu, wowo
yafunu koro
nanso
wonya
biribi a
wofom efiri
se aduane
no de no
yete no wo
menetwitwi
e mu," to
wit,
Funtumfraf
u and
Denkyemfr
afu share a
stomach but
when they
get
something
(food) they
strive over
it because
the
sweetness
of the food
 is felt as it
passes
through the
throat.

Twisting. A
symbol
representin
g the
7 Nkyinkyim
tortuous
nature of
life's
journey.

Love does
not lose its
way home.
Odo
Those led
8 Nnyew Fie
by love
Kwan
always end
up in the
right place.

Crocodile.
A symbol
of
9 Denkyem
adaptability
and
cleverness
 Fortress (or
castle). A
symbol of
strength,
1 seat of
Aban
0 power,
authority,
and
magnificen
ce

Palm tree.
A symbol
of wealth,
1
Abe Dua resourceful
1
ness, and
self-
sufficiency

Calmness.
A symbol
1
Adwo for peace,
2
tranquility,
and quiet

1 Agyindawu Agyin's
3 ru gong. A
symbol of
faithfulness,
alertness,
and
dutifulness.
Designed to
commemor
ate the
faithfulness
of one
 Agyin who
was a
dutiful
servant and
gong-beater
of the
Asantehene.

War horn.
A symbol
of a call to
action,
1 readiness to
Akoben
4 be called to
action,
readiness,
and
voluntarism

1 Akofena A sword of
5 war (or the
state
ceremonial
swords). A
symbol of
state
authority,
legality, the
legitimized
authority of
a ruler,
recognition
of gallantry
of heroic
deeds.
Ghana's
coat of
arms shows
one of these
ceremonial
swords
crossed
 with a
linguist's
staff in its
top left
quadrant.

The foot of
a hen. A
symbol for
discipline
coupled
with care
and
nurturing;
from the
Akan
proverb,
1 “Akoko nan
Akoko Nan
6 tia ba na
enkum ba,”
literally,
“The foot
of a hen
steps on the
child
(chick) but
it doesn't
kill the
child
(chick).”

1 Akoma Joining of
7 Ntoaso hearts. A
symbol of
agreement,
togethernes
s and unity
or a charter.
An
amplificatio
n of the
concept
 of Akoma.

Heart. A
symbol of
love,
goodwill,
1 patience,
Akoma
8 faithfulness,
fondness,
endurance,
and
consistency.

Spider's
web. A
symbol of
wisdom,
craftiness,
creativity,
and the
complexitie
1 Ananse
s of life. It
9 Ntentan
is the web
of Ananse,
the crafty
spider who
is
preeminent
in African
folklore.

2 Ani Bere A No matter

0 Enso Gya how red-
eyed one
becomes
(i.e. how
serious one
becomes),
his eyes do
not spark
 flames. A
symbol of
patience,
self-
containmen
t, self-
discipline,
and self-
control.

The earth
has weight.
A symbol
of
2 Asase Ye
providence
1 Duru
and the
divinity of
Mother
Earth.

Fern. A
symbol of
endurance,
independen
ce, defiance
2 against
Aya
2 difficulties,
hardiness,
perseveranc
e, and
resourceful
ness.
 Bunch of
cola nuts. A
symbol of
affluence,
2
Bese Saka power,
3
abundance,
plenty,
togethernes
s, and unity

No one
should bite
another. A
symbol of
justice,
fairplay,
freedom,
2
Bi Nka Bi peace,
4
forgiveness,
unity,
harmony,
and the
avoidance
of conflict
or strife.

Chequered.
A symbol
of
2 Dame-
craftiness,
5 Dame
intelligence,
and
strategy.

2 Dono The double

6 Ntoaso dono;
joined
tension
talking
drum. A
 symbol of
united
action,
alertness,
goodwill,
praise,
rejoicing,
and
adroitness.

The tension
talking
drum. A
2 symbol of
Dono
7 appelation,
praise,
goodwill
and rhythm.

Wooden
comb. A
symbol of
feminine
consideratio
n or good
2 feminine
Duafe
8 qualities
such as
patience,
prudence,
fondness,
love, and
care.

2 Eban Fence. A
9 symbol of
safety,
security,
 and love.

Handcuffs.
3 A symbol
Epa
0 of law and
justice.

Teeth and
tongue. A
symbol of
improveme
nt,
3 Ese ne advanceme
1 Tekrema nt, growth,
the need for
friendliness
and
interdepend
ence.

Butterfly. A
symbol of
tenderness,
3
Fafanto gentleness,
2
honesty,
and
fragility.

3 Fihankra An
3 enclosed or
secured
compound
house. A
symbol of
brotherhood
, safety,
security,
completene
 ss, and
solicarity.

A flowering
plant
(bidens
pilosa). A
symbol of
3
Fofo warning
4
against
jealousy
and
covetousnes
s.

The back of
Gyawu's
head. A
symbol of
valor and
bravery.
3 Gyawu
Used
5 Atiko
interchange
ably with
the Kwatak
ye
Atikosymb
ol

3 Hwehwem Measuring
6 udua rod (rod of
investigatio
n) or rule.
A symbol
of
excellence,
superior
quality,
perfection,
knowledge,
 and critical
examinatio
n.

Burn you
won't burn
(fig.
unburnable)
. A symbol
of
3 Hye Wo
toughness
7 Nhye
and
imperishabi
lity; also a
symbol of
permanence
.

The bad
muslim
makes it
difficult for
Kramo a good one
Bone to be
3
Amma recognized.
8
Yeanhu A symbol
Kramo Pa of warning
against
deception
and
hypocrisy.
 Kuronti and
Akwamu. A
symbol of
3 Kuronti ne democracy,
9 Akwamu sharing
ideas,
taking
council

The back of
Kwatakye's
head. A
symbol of
valor and
bravery.
This
symbol is
4 Kwatakye
also called
0 Atiko
Gyawu
Atiko. It is
said to be a
hairstyle of
Kwatakye,
a war
captain of
old Asante.

Peppers. A
symbol of
inequality
and uneven
developmen
t; from the
4
Mako proverb
1
"All
peppers on
the same
plant don't
ripen at the
same time"
 I am not
carrying
your basket.
A symbol
of industry,
4 Menso Wo self-
2 Kenten reliance,
and
economic
self-
determinati
on

Well-
ventilated
house. A
symbol of
4 resilience
Mframadan
3 and
readiness to
face the
vicissitudes
of life

Time
chanegs
(times
change). A
4 Mmere
symbol of
4 Dane
the
temporarine
ss of good
times
 Pacification
knot. A
symbol of
pacification
4
Mpatapo ,
5
forgiveness,
and
reconciliati
on

Five tufts
(of hair). A
4 symbol of
Mpuannum
6 loyalty and
priestly
office

He who
does not
know; from
the proverb,
4 "When he
Nea Onnim
7 who does
not know
learns, he
gets to
know."

Chain. A
4 Nkonsonko symbol of
8 nson unity,
community
 A type of
woven
cloth. A
4 symbol of
Nsaa
9 excellence,
genuineness
, and
authenticity

Star (child
of the
heavens). A
symbol of
faith and
5 the belief in
Nsoromma
0 patronage
and
dependency
on a
supreme
being

Understandi
ng. A
5 symbol for
Nteasee
1 understandi
ng and
cooperation

God, there
is
something
Nyame
5 in the
Biribi Wo
2 heavens. A
Soro
symbol of
hope and
inspiration
 God's tree
(sacred
stump). A
5 Nyame symbol of
3 Dua God's
presence
and
protection

God won't
die for me
to die; a
Nyame symbol
5
Nwu Na expressing
4
Mawu the
immortality
of the
human soul

Good
farmer. A
symbol of
5 diligence,
Okuafo Pa
5 hard work,
and
entrepreneu
rship

Moon and
star. A
symbol of
faithfulness,
5 Osram ne fondness,
6 Nsoromma harmony,
benevolenc
e, love,
loyalty, and
femininity
 Ladder of
death. A
symbol of
5 Owuo the
7 Atwedee certainty
and
universality
of death

Executioner
5 's knife. A
Sepow
8 symbol of
justice

The enemy
will suffer;
the enemy
will stew in
5 Tamfo his own
9 Bebre juice. A
symbol for
ill-will,
jealousy,
and envy

UAC lights.
A symbol
of
6 UAC
technologic
0 Nkanea
al
advanceme
nt
 Seed of the
wawa tree.
A symbol
of
6
Wawa Aba hardiness,
1
toughness,
and
perseveranc
e

When you
climb a
good tree.
6 Woforo
A symbol
2 Dua Pa A
of support
for good
causes

Adinkra Symbols & Meanings