Adinkra (Ghana) Symbols |
|
HWE
MU DUA - "measuring
stick"
Symbol of examination and quality control. This symbol stresses
the need to strive for the best quality, whether in production of goods
or in human endeavors. |
|
SANKOFA
- "return and get it"
Symbol of importance of learning
from the past |
|
NSOROMMA
- "child of the heavens [stars]"
Symbol of guardianship;
A reminder that God is the father and watches over all people. |
|
GYE
NYAME - "except for God"
Symbol of the supremacy of God.
Two declarations associated with this symbol are: (1) All just die except
for God; and (2) I fear no one except for God. |
|
ODO
NNYEW FIE KWAN - "Love never loses its way home"
Symbol of the power of love |
|
WAWA
ABA - "seed of the wawa tree"
Symbol of hardiness, toughness
and perseverance. The seed of the wawa tree is extremely hard. In Akan
culture, it is a symbol of someone who is strong and tough. It inspires
the individual to persevere through hardship. |
|
NKONSONKONSON
- "chain link"
Symbol
of unity and human relations. A reminder to contribute to the community,
that in unity lies strength |
|
TAMFO
BEBRE - "the
enemy will stew in his own juice"
Symbol of jealousy
and envy
|
|
NKYINKYIM
- "twisting"
Symbol of initiative,
dynamism, versatility, and transformation.
|
|
NYAME
BIRIBI WO SORO - "God is in the heavens"
Symbol of hope. A
reminder that God's dwelling place is in the heaven, where he can listen
to all prayers.
|
|
NYAME
NNWU NA MAWU - "God never dies, therefore I cannot die."
Symbol of God's omnipresence
and the perpetual existence of man's spirit. This signifies the immortality
of man's soul, believed to be a part of God. Because the soul rests
with God after death, it cannot die.
|
|
DAME-DAME - name of a board game
Symbol of intelligence
and ingenuity
|
|
UNTUNFUNEFU-DENKYEMFUNEFU
- "Siamese crocodiles"
Symbol of democracy
and unity. The Siamese crocodiles share one stomach, yet they fight
over food. This popular symbol is a remind that infighting and tribalism
is harmful to all who engage in it.
|
Eygptian Symbols |
|
Ankh
- "life" |
|
Scarab
Beetle (a dung beetle) worshipped by the Egyptians as "Khepera",
which means, "he was came forth." This creative aspect of
the scarab was associated with the creator god Atum. It is a symbol
of resurrection and perseverance; taking life's "dung" and
bring forth new life/potential/possibilities. Also, Khepera was believed
to push the setting sun along the sky in the same manner as the beetle
with its ball of dung.
|
www.Afrocentric.info |
|
Just a graphic -
no particular meaning |
|
Just
a graphic representing the "brothers." |
|
Coalition
for African-Centered Rites of Passage |