Adinkra symbols

Adinkra symbols are specialized characters and symbols that originated in Ghana. Since their creation, the use of adinkra has spread to other parts of Africa. Additionally, adinkra symbols are used to make local objects more attractive for tourists or to decorate local trinkets for sale in foreign countries.

The word “adinkra” most commonly refers to the large library of symbols used by the people of Ghana to decorate objects. However, it may also refer to a unique type of cloth manufactured in Ghana. In the past, this cloth was decorated with adinkra symbols and worn by political and religious leaders on important days. In the modern era, adinkra cloth is worn by people to mark important events. Notably, the adinkra symbols found on adinkra cloth are not permanently affixed to the fabric. Instead, they are stamped onto the cloth using traditional pigments.

Background

The adinkra symbols can trace their history back to the sixteenth century, when they were developed by the Akan people. The Akan lived in the African region now called Chana and Côte d'Ivoire. Originally, the use of Adinkra symbols and cloth was pioneered by the Gyaaman clans. The royalty and spiritual leaders of the Akan people became the only ones allowed to use adinkra, and even they only used it for important ceremonies, such as funerals. In fact, the word “adinkra” translates to “goodbye” in reference to the symbols’ prominent place in funerary ceremonies.

Because no one else knew how to make Adinkra cloth and apply adinkra symbols, the practice remained closed to all but the most powerful people in society. However, this changed during the nineteenth century when the Gyaaman king was killed during a war with the Asante nation. The Gyaaman clans were the original creators of adinkra. Because of this, the Asante king kept the Gyaaman king’s adinkra robe as a prize. His people also took the knowledge of how to make Adinkra cloth, as well as the process used by the Gyaaman clans to stamp the special symbols onto the cloth.

Following the end of the war, the use of Adinkra symbols rapidly spread. The Asante people incorporated adinkra into their culture, developing new ways to utilize the sacred symbols. They continued placing adinkra symbols on adinkra cloth, and while the process remained culturally significant, the number of people with access to the craft was increased. Additionally, the Asante found new ways to utilize adinkra symbols, placing them on furniture, pottery, metalworking, and many other crafts. In the modern era, adinkra symbols can be found on architecture, sculptures, and a variety of commercial products.

Overview

Adinkra is one of the most famous forms of textile art from the Ghana region. In different contexts, the word adinkra can refer to either the series of symbols used to convey culturally significant meanings or the specialized cloth upon which these symbols are commonly found. Because the methods for creating Adinkra art have been distributed among several African peoples, modern Adinkra art is more widespread than its historic counterpart. However, it maintains a prominent place in many African cultures.

Traditional adinkra is created using a special ink. This ink is made by boiling the bark of the Badie tree with iron slag. The adinkra symbols are then carefully applied to traditional adinkra cloth. During this process, the symbols are placed on the cloth using a unique kind of stamping. The stamps are created by carving out the bottom of a calabash gourd, allowing adinkra artists to create distinct, consistent patterns. However, because the adinkra symbols are not permanently affixed to the cloth, traditional adinkra garments should not be washed. Though traditional adinkra cloth was hand-printed on undyed or dark fabric, modern adinkra cloth may be brightly colored and mass-produced.

In Ghana, adinkra symbols and cloth are still created and worn for culturally significant events. The two most common occasions that warrant the creation and wearing of adinkra garments include weddings and funerals. Some adinkra manufacturers export adinkra cloth and symbols to other parts of the world. However, the adinkra fabric exported from Ghana is often of a lower quality than the fabric sold locally.

Adinkra symbols are placed on many objects exported from Ghana. Local people hoping to sell objects to tourists may place adinkra symbols on shirts, sculptures, furniture, and pottery, as well as on traditional adinkra fabric. The meanings of these symbols are sometimes generic. Individuals purchasing adinkra items should carefully research the meanings of the symbols on a product before displaying them. When created for personal use or local sale, adinkra symbols often translate to specialized proverbs and hidden meanings or reference individual events in a person’s history.

The use of adinkra symbols as a form of ritualized decoration is very popular in modern Ghana. The symbols are carved into pottery and the walls of homes and are used in the architectural features of public buildings, monuments, and funerary structures. Though the symbols are considered primarily decorative when used in architecture and on household objects, they work together to create complex messages. The meanings of individual symbols can change based on context, working to convey messages about the environment, particular memories, or traditional wisdom.

More than two hundred unique adinkra symbols were developed on the Ivory Coast. Some symbols depict easily recognizable figures, while others involve complicated abstract shapes. Many adinkra symbols have been assigned both a literal and a symbolic or proverbial meaning. Some adinkra symbols may be used to represent entire traditional stories. Because the messages intended by adinkra symbols may not directly translate to another language, individuals studying the symbols often seek help from locals or foreign experts.

Bibliography

“Adinkra Symbols and Meanings.” Ghanaian Museum, 2020, ghanaianmuseum.com/adinkra-symbols-and-meanings/#:~:text=It%20is%20one%20of%20several,to%20each%20one%20of%20them. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.

“Adinkra Symbols Explained.” National Park Service, 2023, www.nps.gov/afbg/learn/historyculture/adinkra-symbols.htm. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.

“Adinkra Symbols with Meanings.” African Activities, 2017, africanactivities.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/adinkra-symbols-with-meanings.pdf. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.

Boddy-Evans, Alistair. “The Origin and Meaning of Adinkra Symbols.” ThoughtCo., 2020, www.thoughtco.com/origin-and-meaning-of-adinkra-symbols-4058700. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.

Sales, Kaleena. “Beyond the Bauhaus: West African Adinkra Symbols.” Design Educators Community, 2019, educators.aiga.org/beyond-the-bauhaus-west-african-adinkra-symbols/. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.