![]() ![]() At one time, Adinkra cloth and symbols were only worn and displayed during funerals. Ancient and Modern Day Uses Bidding FarewellĪdinkra can be literally translated to "good bye", or "farewell" in Asante Twi, a language spoken in Ghana by approximately 15 million people. Adinkra symbols continue to evolve to this day depicting historical events, technological improvements, and changes to Ghanaian culture. The deep brown ink originally used, adinkra aduru, is created by boiling the bark of the Badie tree with scraps of iron. Designs were originally made by cutting a pattern in a calabash gourd, and then stamping the print on a piece of colorful fabric. Creating Adinkra SymbolsĪdinkra symbols express various themes that relate to the history and beliefs of the Asante, and usually have a rich proverbial meaning since proverbs play an important role in their culture. King Adinkra was killed, his territory annexed by the neighboring Asante kingdom, and the patterns on his clothes were taken by the Asante as their own. The Golden Stool is the Asante royal throne which was said to have descended from the heavens and landed on the lap of the first Asante king, and represents absolute power and tribal cohesion. King Adinkra was defeated and captured in battle by the ancient Asante people for having copied the "Golden Stool". The term Adinkra came from the legendary king of the Gyaman, Nani kofi Adinkra, who wore clothes with colorful patterns made up of symbols with special meanings. ![]() Adinkra are small symbols from West Africa, originally created by the Gyaman people, in what is now the present day country of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in western Africa. ![]()
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