Adinkra Cloth Symbols - Asante Wisdom

119 Pages·2014·41.33 MB·English

by  Aaron Mobley

A D I N K R A
C L O T H
S Y M B O L S
ASANTE WISDOM
All rights reserved.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy,
recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
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THE HISTORY OF ADINKRA CLOTH
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ADINKRA PICTURE GALLERY
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110 BOLD GRAPHIC ADINKRA SYMBOLS
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PRONUNCIATIONS & MEANINGS
Published by
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avmobley
©Aaron Mobley
Hartford, Connecticut
[email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The History Of Adinkra Cloth 59. Mpuannum - Five Tufts Of Hair
2. The History Of Adinkra Cloth (Continued) 60. Mrammuo - Crossing Paths
3. Adinkra Picture Gallery 1 61. Musuyidee - Good Fortune
4. Adinkra Picture Gallery 2 62. Nante Yie - Goodbye
5. Adinkra Picture Gallery 3 63. Nea Onnim - Quest For Knowledge
6. Aban - Great Fortress 64. Nkonsonkonson - Chain Link
7. Abode Santann - All Seeing Eye 65. Nkotimsefo Mpua - Court Attendants Hair Style
8. Abusua Pa - Good Family 66. Nkrabea - Destiny
9. Adinkrahene - King Of Adinkra Symbols 67. Nkuruma Kesee - Big Okra
10. Adwo - Peace or Serenity 68. Nkyimu - Crossing Paths
11. Agyin Dawuru - Agyin’s Gong 69. Nkyinkyin - Twistings
12. Akoben - War Horn 70. Nnampo Pa Baanu - Two Good Friends
13. Akofena - State Swords 71. Nokore - Truth
14. Akoko Nan - Hen’s Feet 72. Nsaa - Hand Woven Fabric
15. Akoma - Heart 73. Nsa Ko, Na Nsa Aba - Hand Go, Hand Come
16. Akoma Ntoaso - Joined Hearts 74. Nserewa - Cowry Shells
17. Akwaaba - Welcome 75. Nsoroma - Star
18. Ananse Ntontan - Spider’s Web 76. Nya Gyidie - Have Faith
19. Ani Bre A Enso Gya - Red Eyes Can’t Spark Flames 77. Nyame Biribi Wo Soro - God Is With Me
20. Anyi Me Aye A - If You Will Not Praise Me 78. Nyame Dua - God’s Alter
21. Asaawa - Sweet Berry 79. Nyame Nti - By God’s Grace
22. Asaase Ye Duro - The Earth Has Weight 80. Nyame Nwu Na Mawu - God Help Me Reach It
23. Asetena Pa - Good Living 81. Nyame Ye Ohene - God Is King
24. Awurade Baatanfo - God The Mother 82. Nyansapo - Wisdom Knot
25. Aya - Fern 83. Obaatan Awaamu - Warm Embrace Of Mother
26. Bese Saka - Bunch Of Cola Nuts 84. Obi Nka Bi - Bite Not Each Other
27. Boafo Ye Na - Willing Helper 85. Obohemmaa - Diamond
28. Dame Dame - Board Game 86. Odenkyem - Crocodile
29. Donno - Bell Drum 87. Odo Nyera Fie Kwan - Love Guides You Home
30. Donno Ntoaso - Talking Drum 88. Ohene Adwa - King’s Stool
31. Duafe - Wooden Comb 89. Ohene Aniwa - King’s Eyes
32. Dwennimmen - Ram’s Horns 90. Ohene Kra Konmunde - Royal Soul Pendant
33. Eban - Fence 91. Ohene Kye - King’s Crown
34. Epa - Handcuffs 92. Ohene Kyiniie - King’s Umbrella
35. Ese Ne Tekremah - Teeth And Tongue 93. Ohene Papa - Good King
36. Esono Anantam - Elephant’s Footprint 94. Okodee Mmowere - Eagal’s Talon
37. Fafanto - Butterfly 95. Osiadan Nyame - God The Builder
38. Fihankra - Compound House 96. Osram Ne Nsoroma - Moon And Star
39. Fofoo Aba - Fofoo Plant Seed 97. Otumfuo Wuo Ye Ya - The King Is Gone
40. Funtummireku Denkyemmireku - Two-Headed Crocodile 98. Owia A Repue - Rising Sun
41. Gyawu Atiko - War Hero’s Hair Style 99. Owo Foro Adobe - Snake Climbing Palm
42. Gye Nyame - Except God 100. Owuo Atwedee - Ladder Of Death
43. Gye W’Ani - Enjoy Yourself 101. Pagya - Strikes Fire
44. Hwehwemudua - Measuring Rod 102. Pempamsie - Prepared For Action
45. Hye Wo Nhye - Unburnable 103. Sankofa - Learn From The Past
46. Kokuromotie - Thumb 104. Sepo - Executioner’s Knife
47. Kramo Bone - Bad Mohammedan 105. Sesa Woruban - I Transform My Life
48. Kuntunkantan - Inflated Pride 106. Som Onyankopon - Worship God
49. Kuronti Ne Akwamu - Power And Balance 107. Sunsum - Soul
50. Kyemfere - Potsherds 108. Tabono - Oars
51. Mako Nyinaa - All Peppers 109. Tamfo Bebre - Jealous Enemy
52. Mate Masie - I Understand You 110. Ti Koro Nko Agyina - One Head Is Not A Council
53. Mekyia Wo - I Salute You 111. Tumi Te Se Kusua - Power Is Like An Egg
54. Mframadan - House Built to Withstand Strong Wind 112. Tuo Ne Akofena - Gun And State Sword
55. Mmara Krado - Seal Of Law 113. Wawa Aba - Wawa Tree Seed
56. Mo No Yo - Congratulations 114. Wo Nsa Da Mu A - If Your Hands Are In The Dish
57. Mpatapo - Reconciliation Knot 115. Yebehyia Bio - We Shall Meet Again
58. Mpuankron - Nine Tufts Of Hair 116. References / About The Author
THE HISTORY
OF ADINKRA CLOTH
A
dinkra (ah-deen-krah) cloth has been produced for hundreds of years by the Asante
(ah-shan-tay) people of Ghana in the city of Ntonso, a major center for Adinkra cloth
production. Adinkra is an ancient African writing system created by the Asante, an
Akan (ah-kahn) - meaning the first people ethnic group, who live in the central part of Ghana.
Ghana is named after the Empire, which once existed in part of the Sahara region of Africa.
The Ghana Empire was later defeated by the Mali Empire. The people of the defeated Ghana
Empire moved south to West Africa where the modern country of Ghana, formerly known
as the Gold Coast, is found. It was called the Gold Coast because gold was found there and
used in trade.
It has been suggested that the art of Adinkra came from Gyaman, Côte d'lvoire (the Ivory
Coast). Early in the nineteenth century. King Adinkera of Gyaman, tried to copy the sacred
Golden Stool of the Asante. The Golden Stool was the unifying force of the Asante Nation.
This sacrilegious attempt angered the Asantehene, the Asante King Nana Osei Bonsu-Panyin.
Adinkera was defeated and killed in the war. The cloth that King Adinkera wore in battle was
taken by the Asante as a trophy. With the cloth, the Asante brought with them the art of
stamping cloth. It is also significant that Adinkra means farewell, or saying good-bye to one
another when parting, hence the use of the special cloth on funeral occasions (eyie). Another
version of its origins by local printers who say that the patterns were created by the first
men to make the cloth, and that the symbols have been passed down through the generations,
some changing, and some staying the same.

A
dinkra symbol designs may have been originally painted on the cloth at first. Today,
designs are stamped onto dyed and embroidered cloth which will be used for both
funerals and other special occasions. Individuals will commission a cloth from established
artists who will use various information about the client to determine the appropriate symbol
or combination of symbols he will use to produce a beautiful cloth.
Adinkra cloth communicates through a language of symbols. The symbols themselves are
closely related to Asante cosmology. Adinkra stamps encompass more than five hundred
different motifs. Some design motifs are associated with traditional sayings, proverbs,
parables, and anansesem (folk stories), which have special meanings such as unity, patience,
and fearlessness. A chief on a mission of peace might wear clothing printed with the symbol
- Obi Nka Bi “Bite not each other, avoid conflicts.” It’s a message conveying harmony, peace,
forgiveness, and unity. Some designs are inspired by plants or animals. Still others are based
on philosophical concepts inspired by celestial bodies, such as the moon and stars.
F
irst the cloth is embroidered with colorful stitches called kurkruboo. When the cloth is
ready to stamp, the artist stretches it on the ground and secures it. With an instrument
resembling a comb, called nsensan dua, he draws the lines that divide the cloth into square
fields, in which he stamps the symbols by dipping the stamps in ink and imprinting them on
the cloth. Adinkera aduro (Adinkera medicine) is the ink used in the stamping process. It is
prepared by boiling the bark of the badee tree (bah-dee) together with iron slag. It is placed
into a large makeshift barrel. Water is poured over the bark until it is completely covered. The
bark is allowed to soften for several days. Thereafter, it is sieved and dried. Using mortar
and pestle, the remaining bark is ground into a fine powder. The fine granules are placed into
kettles of water and boiled for hours, and subsequently sieved to remove undesired particles
and to extract the rich dark liquid. Originally the printing was done on a cotton piece lying on
the ground. Today, raised platforms with sack coverings act as the printing table.
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THE HISTORY OF ADINKRA CLOTH (Continued)
T
he stamps are carved from apakyiwa (calabash) a dried, gourd-like fruit attached to
handles made of bamboo strips. Adinkra artists often carve their own stamps; but they
also commission stamps from carvers known for their expertise. Well established Adinkra
artists may have hundreds of stamps, which they often lend to less experienced artists. About
one hundred stamps - some designs two hundred years old - are still in regular use today.
Adinkra clothes, worn for serious occasions and at funerals, are essential to Asante mourning
rituals. Adinkra cloth reflects truths shared in life and death. The Asante wear Adinkra clothes
of different colors for specific periods during funerals. The mourning process, which can take up
to a year, is followed by annual ceremonies that commemorates the departed. These stamped
clothes, traditionally worn in red russet, dark brown, or blue-black, express the grief of the
bereaved; but such clothes are now used for many different occasions. Clothes for men are
six yards long; those for women are four yards.
C
lothes worn by the king and other royalty are much larger than those worn by the general
public. The artists that create Adinkra cloth for royalty live and work in Awokwa, a
suburb of Kumase. Royal clothes have been created here for centuries. The abanesehene,
the man responsible for the selection and care of the king’s clothing, determines the stamp or
combination of stamps that are appropriate for a specific occasion. He selects the unstamped
cloth as well. In the past, artists used a heavy woven fabric from northern Ghana for Adinkra
cloth. Today the traditional cloth colors have been expanded to include blue, lavender, yellow,
and turquoise, more likely to be worn for special occasions than for funerals.
Adinkra designs serve two purposes: they convey a message when scene on clothing and
enhance the beauty of the cloth. There are hundreds of Adinkra designs, many more than are
represented here. Today Adinkra cloth is not only used by the Asante alone but all peoples in
Ghana. The symbols are not only used in ceremonial cloth; but are also used in architecture,
sculpture, ceramics, and other artistic designs.
Obi Nka Bi Musuyidee
(oh-bee en-kah bee) (moo-shoo-yee-deh)
“Bite not each other, “Good fortune
avoid conflicts” or sanctity”
Symbol of harmony, Symbol of good
peace, forgiveness, luck and
and unity. spiritual strength.
Asantehene
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
Wearing “Obi Nka Bi” and
“Musuyidee” Adinkra Symbols.
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ADINKRA PICTURE GALLERY 1
Creating Nkyimu Pattern Asantehene Wearing Adinkra Cloth Stamping Dwennimmen Pattern
Man Wearing Adinkra Cloth Adinkra Print Textile Stamps and Nsensan Dua
Owuo Atwedee Stamp
Ohene Wearing Adinkra Print Adinkra Embroidery Pattern Creating Mframadan Pattern
3
ADINKRA PICTURE GALLERY 2
Sankofa Stamp Funtummireku-Denkyemmireku Stamp Gye Nyame Stamp
Ani Bere A Enso Gya Stamp Ese Ne Tekrema Stamp Fofoo Aba Stamp
Hye Wo Nhye Stamp Nkotimsefo Mpua Stamp Musuyidee Stamp
Dwennimmen Stamp Sunsum Stamp Dame Dame Stamp
4
ADINKRA PICTURE GALLERY 3
Adinkra Clothes of Various Colors
5
Aban
(ah-bahn)
“Great Fortress”
Symbol of the seat
of political power,
state authority,
and prosperity.
Adinkra Cloth Symbol • Akan People • Ghana and the Ivory Coast • West Africa

6
Abode Santann
(ah-boh-deh sahn-tahn)
“The all seeing
eye of the
Divine Creator”
Symbol of the totality
of the universe.
Adinkra Cloth Symbol • Akan People • Ghana and the Ivory Coast • West Africa

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