Page 15 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 5
P. 15
TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE
ADINKRA
THE ANCIENT ROYAL
SYMBOLS OF THE ASHANTI
KINGDOM OF GHANA
CHIOMA PHILLIPS
he Akan people of leave of this world and Adinkra restricted to communication
Ghana make up is worn by the living who are with those making the passage
roughly half of the paying their respects to the one from one world to another, but
country’s population, who has gone to the next world. also to codify the “Akan world
Thaving migrated The Adinkra is used to pass a view and their quest for truth
to and settled in there in the message to them by means of and righteousness in the world.”
period between the 11th to 18th the elaborate symbols that are (Willis)
centuries. Speakers of this woven into the fabric – though The Adinkra symbols, mirror
language are said to include the Adinkra is not worn during the intricate Zulu beadwork and
Asante, Akyem, Attié, Fante, the deepest periods of mourn- the Egyptian Medu-Ntjer picture
Brong, Baule, Chakosi, Guang, ing (Boateng). The fabrics for writings (know as hieroglyphs to
Twi and Anyi. Some Akan are the funerals were dyed in red archaeologists but which means
also said to live in the Ivory (ochre), black and brown. This "the words of God") as they are
Coast and in Togo. fabric was intricately designed used to convey messages, tell
The name, Asante, means ‘be- and printed using hand-carved stories, supply powerful un-
cause of war’ which describes stamps and used to be worn spoken imagery to non-verbal
the origin of the Asante King- exclusively by royalty. These communication which helps
dom in that it was created in days, however, the symbols and them keep the secrets of their
order to fight another kingdom the fabric have found accep- brotherhood from non-initiates.
known as Denkyira during the tance and use well beyond the They are a powerful demonstra-
unification of the Asante clans. Ashanti royalty. tion of the rich historical culture
Asante royalty created two of Afrika that is often belittled by
unique fabrics known as Kente Adinkra Symbols the west. These symbols have
and Adinkra, both of these were In another sense, therefore, often been dismissed as being
reserved for royalty. In Akan, Adinkra also refers to a system occultic, but when you search
‘di nkra’ means to take ones of symbolic writing that is not them out you realize that these
www.msingiafrikamagazine.com heal . restore . rebirth . Afrika | 15
