
ADINKRAHENE
-
- • “Chief of Adinkra Symbols”
- | Greatness, Charisma, Leadership
- •
AKOBEN
-
- • “War Horn”
- | Vigilance, Wariness
- •
AKOFENA
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- • “Sword of War”
- | Courage, Valor
- •
AKOKONAN
-
- • “The Leg of a Hen”
- | Mercy, Nurturing
- •
AKOMA
-
- • “The Heart”
- | Patience, Tolerance
- •
AKOMA NTOSO
-
- • “Linked Hearts”
- | Understanding, Agreement
- •
ANANSE NTONTAN
-
- • “Spider’s Web”
- | Wisdom, Creativity
- •
ASASE YE DURU
-
- • “The Earth has weight.”
- | Divinity Of Mother Earth
- •
AYA
-
- • “Fern”
- | Endurance, Resourcefulness
- •
BESE SAKA
-
- • “Sack of Cola Nuts”
- | Affluence, Abundance, Unity
- •
BI NKA BI
-
- • “No one should bite the other.”
- | Peace, Harmony
- •
BOA ME NA ME MMOA WO
-
- • “Help me and let me help you.”
- | Cooperation, Interdependence
- •
DAME-DAME
-
- • Name of a Board Game
- | Intelligence, Ingenuity
- •
DENKYEM
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- • “Crocodile”
- | Adaptability
- •
DUAFE
-
- • “Wooden Comb”
- | Beauty, Hygiene, Feminine Qualities
- •
DWENNIMMEN
-
- • “Ram’s Horns”
- | Humility, Strength
- •
EBAN
-
- • “Fence”
- | Love, Safety, Security
- •
EPA
-
- • “Handcuffs”
- | Law, Justice, Slavery
- •
ESE NE TEKREMA
-
- • “The Teeth And The Tongue”
- | Friendship, Interdependence
- •
FAWOHODIE
-
- • “Independence”
- | Independence, Freedom, Emancipation
- •
FIHANKRA
-
- • “House/ Compound”
- | Security, Safety
- •
FOFO
-
- • “A Yellow-Flowered Plant”
- | Jealousy, Envy
- •
FUNTUNFUNEFU DENKYEMFUNEFU
-
- • “Siamese Crocodiles”
- | Democracy, Unity In Diversity
- •
GYE NYAME
-
- • “Except for God.”
- | Supremacy Of God
- •
HWEMUDUA
-
- • “Measuring Stick”
- | Examination, Quality Control
- •
HYE WONHYE
-
- • “What Which Cannot Be Burnt”
- | Imperishability, Endurance
- •
KETE PA
-
- • “Good Bed”
- | Good Marriage
- •
KINTINKANTAN
-
- • “Puffed up extravagance”
- | Arrogance, Extravagance
- •
KWATAKYE ATIKO
-
- • “Hairstyle Of Kwatakye, A War Hero”
- | Bravery, Valor
- •
MATE MASIE
-
- • “What I hear, I keep.”
- | Wisdom, Knowledge, Prudence
- •
ME WARE WO
-
- • “I shall marry you.”
- | Commitment, Perseverance
- •
MFRAMADAN
-
- • “Wind-resistant house”
- | Fortitude, Preparedness
- •
MMERE DANE
-
- • “Time changes”
- | Change, Life’s Dynamics
- •
MMUSUYIDEE
-
- • “That which removes ill luck”
- | Good Fortune, Sanctity
- •
MPATAPO
-
- • “Knot of reconciliation”
- | Peacemaking, Reconciliation
- •
MPUANNUM
-
- • “Five tufts”
- | Priestly Office, Loyalty, Adroitness
- •
NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, OHU
-
- • “He who does not know can know from learning.”
- | Knowledge, Life-Long Education
- •
NEA OPE SE OBEDI HENE
-
- • “He who wants to be king.”
- | Service, Leadership
- •
NKONSONKONSON
-
- • “Chain links”
- | Unity, Human Relations
- •
NYAME DUA
-
- • “Chain links”
- | God’s Protection And Presence
- •
NKYIMU
-
- • “Tree of god”
- | Skillfulness, Precision
- •
NKYINKYIM
-
- •
- | Initiative, Dynamism, Versatility
- •
NSAA
-
- •
- | Excellence, Genuineness, Authenticity
- •
NSOROMMA
-
- • “Child of the heavens”
- | Guardianship
- •
NYAME BIRIBI WO SORO
-
- • “God is in the heavens.”
- | Hope
- •
NYAME NNWU NA MAWU
-
- • “God never dies, therefore I cannot die.”
- |
- •
NYAME NTI
-
- • “By God’s grace.”
- | Faith, Trust In God
- •
NYAME YE OHENE
-
- • “God is King.”
- | Majesty, Supremacy Of God
- •
NYANSAPO
-
- • “Wisdom knot.”
- | Wisdom, Ingenuity, Intelligence, Patience
- •
ODO NNYEW FIE KWAN
-
- • “Love never loses its way home.”
- |
- •
OKODEE MMOWERE
-
- • “Talons of the eagle.”
- | Bravery, Strength
- •
ONYANKOPON ADOM NTI BIRIBIARA BEYE YIE
-
- • “By God’s grace, all will be well.”
- | Hope, Providence, Faith
- •
OSRAM NE NSOROMMA
-
- • “The moon and the star.”
- | Love, Faithfulness, Harmony
- •
OWO FORO ADOBE
-
- • Snake climbing the raffia tree.”
- | Steadfastness, Prudence, Diligence
- •
OWUO ATWEDEE
-
- • “The ladder of death.”
- | Mortality
- •
PEMPAMSIE
-
- • “Sew in readiness.”
- | Readiness, Steadfastness
- •
SANKOFA
-
- • “Return and get it.”
- |
- •
SESA WO SUBAN
-
- • “I change or transform my life.”
- | Transformation
- •
TAMFO BEBRE
-
- • “The enemy will stew in his own juice.”
- | Jealousy
- •
WAWA ABA
-
- • “Seed of the wawa tree.”
- | Hardiness, Toughness, Perseverance
- •
WOFORO DUA PA A
-
- • “When you climb a good tree.”
- | Support, Cooperation
- •
WO NSA DA MU A
-
- • “if your hands are in the dish.”
- | Democracy, Pluralism
- •

References
- 1. Graham, Y., & Hagan, K. (2022). Adinkra Icons. Retrieved from Adinkra Icons: ‹https://www.adinkraicons.dev/›
- 2. McDonald, J. (2004). Adinkra Index. Retrieved from West African Wisdom: Adinkra Symbols & Meanings: ‹http://adinkra.org/›