Adinkra Symbols
The Adinkra symbols come from West Africa, specifically a region that is modern-day Ghana and Ivory Coast. The Asante also known as Ashanti people of Ghana would print them on cloth, as well as pottery and metalwork. The Asante people resisted British colonial rule when it arrived in West Africa. The word ‘Adinkra’ means ‘farewell’ or ‘goodbye’ in the Twi language, spoken by the Asante people. The symbols are closely tied to the history, beliefs and traditions of the Asante people. Each symbol represents a small number of simple concepts, meaning that Adinkra cloth would traditionally be printed using bespoke patterns, telling a story about the wearer that could be read by those knowledgeable enough to understand the underlying symbolism.
We have made enhancements to the symbols, however, the essence still prevails.
