Welcome to
the blaklane
Since this is my first real post I will like to say a little about why I decided to start this blog. A few years ago while I was writing my undergraduate thesis (something to do with Ewe chieftaincy and textiles) I run into a few problems one of which was an amazing scarcity of information on Africa and African culture –yes there is a lot of information out there but mostly about war and famine.
Fortunately, there is more to Africa than that, a lot more, a continent flowing with milk and honey, an amazingly rich cultural heritage and last but not the least, great people!
Since this is my first real post I will like to say a little about why I decided to start this blog. A few years ago while I was writing my undergraduate thesis (something to do with Ewe chieftaincy and textiles) I run into a few problems one of which was an amazing scarcity of information on Africa and African culture –yes there is a lot of information out there but mostly about war and famine.
Fortunately, there is more to Africa than that, a lot more, a continent flowing with milk and honey, an amazingly rich cultural heritage and last but not the least, great people!
Today’s post is about a group of symbols common to the Akan people and in particular the Asante, a tribe that can be found in the middle belt or the mostly forest region of Ghana. The Asante have a rich history, so rich that a single post can’t tell it all not even a thousand…., from the beautifully coloured kente cloth, the graceful movements of Adowa dancers, the awesome story behind the golden stool and many more... I will tell you all about that later right here on the blaklane.
Well, the legend behind the Adinkra symbols has it that it was named after a king of the Gyaman people(a group of people now located in the Ivory coast ) Nana Kofi Adinkra who had been defeated and captured in war by the Asante’s for no less a crime than having copied the “Golden stool” ,(legend has it that this stool represents the soul and absolute power of the Asante kingdom) Well the story goes that Nana Adinkra wore patterned cloth which was interpreted as a way of expressing sorrow on his being taken to Kumasi, the ancient and present capital of the Asante kingdom.
The Asante’s later adopted these symbols, developing it to suite their own philosophical outlook and started painting it in their cloth and using it in their pottery and metal works.
Adinkra literally means “farewell” and is thus used mostly to decorate clothes that are worn on important occasions especially at funerals of family relations and friends to signify sorrow and to bid farewell to the deceased.
Adinkra symbols convey various themes, beliefs and philosophy of the Asante. They are mostly proverbial and carry a great deal of wisdom.
Below is a list of some Adinkra symbols and their meaning.
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References
ADINKRA -
Cultural Symbols of the Asante people
By
Valentina
A. Tetteh
NCC
A History of Ghana
By F. K Buah
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