learn an adinkra per week

I think it looks like shovels, lol, but this is “linked hearts” meaning understanding and agreement.

Dwennimmen means “ram’s horns” and is a symbol of humility together with strength.

“The ram will fight fiercely against an adversary, but it also submits humbly to slaughter, emphasizing that even the strong need to be humble.”

This one is a bit harder for me to draw than the other adinkra. It means “except for God” and symbolizes that God is supreme in everything.

The people of Ghana are very religious and unsurprisingly this is the most common adinkra to be used in decorating.

Fofo basically boils down to an emblem of jealousy. The fofo is a flower with yellow blossoms and when the petals fall off, they become black and spiky.

Isn’t that just like envy?

This is a symbol of life transformation. It is actually two symbols in one. The Morning Star, within the wheel, or “a new start to the day” within “independent movement.”

Isabella, if you’re reading this, I thought of you after writing this out. “Sesa Wo Suban” seems to me like another way of embracing impermanence. (:

Adinkrahene is “The Chief of the Adinkra symbols” and a symbol of leadership, greatness and charisma.

It looks a lot like a bullseye, lol.

Osram Ne Nsoromma is the name of the adinkra that means “The Moon and The Star”. It symbolizes the bond of love, harmony and faithfulness between husband and wife.

The saying that illustrates this further is “Kyekye pe aware,” or “The North Star has a deep love for marriage. She is always in the sky waiting for the return of the moon, her husband.”

Duafe is a wooden comb used to brush and braid hair. It is a symbol and celebration of all things feminine.

Adinkra are West African symbols, much like an alphabet, used to tell stories or concepts. They are common on hand-painted clothing, and were originally used by the royalty of Ghana.

I’ve already learned Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan. I can pronounce it’s name, draw it, and I know what it means. This is my favorite of the Adinkra, although many of them have very wonderful, significant, or beautiful meanings.