Adinkra Symbols

Before I finish writing posts on this blog, as I complete this phase of my missionary service, I can’t resist drawing symbols that we see each day in West Africa. 

The motifs on fabrics, pottery, stools, and architecture we see are more than pretty designs. They are a way of communicating the thoughts, values, and beliefs of the people who use them. 

The symbols are named for their originator, King Nana Kwadwo Agyemang Adinkra. Over time, many cultures throughout the AWA have adopted and adapted these figures in their culture. 

The distinctive designs add beauty to the products they adorn, and they also represent ancient wisdom and proverbs, historical events, human attributes, animal behavior, and plant life. 

Adinkra printing on fabric is accomplished by block-stamping with wooden or metal stamps and by screen printing. Take a look at the fabrics of your African clothing for these design elements and determine what they mean. 

Although the significance of Adinkra has been weakened as African craft has become more commercialized, their traditional beauty has not. That’s why the senior missionary sisters are drawn to the fabric stores to order lovely African clothing and linens sporting these symbols.