Adinkra Symbols

Adinkra symbols are symbols that represent proverbs, concepts, or aphorisms. Adinkra symbols originated from Ghana and the Gyaman people of Cote d’Ivoire. Adinkra symbols have spiritual, scientific and metaphysical application in Akan tradition. The deeper meanings of Adinkra symbols are explained and easily understood through Adinkra Alphabet. Adinkra symbols are used extensively as logos, in fabrics and pottery.

No.	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
1	aCdinkrahECnEC	Adinkrahene		“Chief of Adinkra Symbols”	To act in Leadership role and inspire others
2	bi nka bi	Bi Nka Bi		“Bite not one another”	Caution against negative actions towards one another such as cheating.
3	cwc foCroC adoCbe	Owo Foro Adobe		“Snake climb the raffia palm”	Signifies persistence and diligence to achieve success
4	damEC damEC	Dame Dame		“Name of a board game”	Signifies intelligence and ingenuity
5	eban	Eban		“Fence”	A home with a fence is considered an ideal residence
6	fawoChoCdiE	Fawohodie		“Freedom”	Independence comes with its responsibilities
7	ZEC NamEC	Gye Nyame		“Except God”	Symbolizes the Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresent power of God.
8	hwEmudua	Hwemudua		“Measuring stick”	Symbolizes strive towards perfection
9	esEC nEC tekrema	Ese Ne Tekrema		“The teeth and the tongue”	Symbolizes unity, friendship and interdependence
10	epa	Epa		“Handcuff”	A symbol of the uncompromising nature of the law to offenders and discourage slavery.
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
11	kintinkantan	Kintinkantan		“Puffed up extravagance”	Symbolizes the nature of some individuals who are arrogant, pompous and bossy.
12	mmECre danEC	Mmere Dane		“Time changes”	Symbol of the change and dynamism of life.
13	mpatapc	Mpatapo		“Knot of reconciliation”	Represent the bond or knot that binds parties in a dispute to a peaceful reconciliation.
14	nQimu	Nkyimu		“Divider”	Symbolizes skillfulness and precision.
15	NamEC biribi wc soCroC	Nyame Biribi Wo Soro		“God’s something is in the heavens”	God dwells in the heavens and he answers prayers.
16	pECmpamsiE	Pempamsie		“Sew to preserve”	Preparedness and readiness
17	denQem	Denkyem		“Crocodile”	We should adapt to changing conditions in our life and the environment
18	asasEC yE duru	Asase Ye Duru		“The Earth has weight”	Symbolizes the providence and divinity of Mother Earth.
19	sankcfa	Sankofa		“Return and get it”	Bringing past useful experiences into the present
20	aya	Aya		“Fern”	Symbolizes endurance and resourcefulness
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
21	nECa onnim noC sua a, ohu	Nea Onnim No Sua A, Ohu		“He/She who does not know, will know from learning”	Practice makes one perfect
22	bECsEC saka	Bese Saka		“Sack of kola nut”	Symbolizes affluence, power and abundance
23	wawa aba	Wawa Aba		“Seed of the Wawa tree”	Symbolizes hardiness and perseverance
24	akoCkcnan	Akokonan		“The leg of a hen”	Symbolizes nurturing and discipline
25	duafEC	Duafe		“Wooden comb”	Symbolizes beauty and cleanliness
26	fihankra	Fihankra		“You did not say goodbye when you left home”	Symbolizes security and safety
27	jECnnimmen	Dwennimmen		“Ram’s horns”	Symbolizes humility together with strength
28	csram nEC nsoCroCmma	Osram Ne Nsoromma		“The Moon and the Star”	Symbolizes love, faithfulness and harmony
29	funtunfunEfu denQemfunEfu	Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu		“Conjoined crocodiles”	Democracy and unity in diversity
30	mpuAnum	Mpuanum		“Five tufts of hair”	Symbolizes loyalty and skillfulness
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
31	SEC woCnSEC	Hye Wonhye		“That which cannot be burnt”	Symbolizes imperishability and endurance
32	matEC maCsiE	Mate Masie		“What I hear, I keep”	Symbolizes receptivity to learning and education
33	ckcdECe mmcwECre	Okodee Mmowere		“The talons of the Eagle”	Symbolizes strength and power
34	Nansapc	Nyansapo		“Wisdom Knot”	Symbol of wisdom and intelligence
35	nsaa	Nsaa		High quality hand woven fabric	Symbolizes quality and durability
36	akoCma	Akoma		“Heart”	Symbolizes love, goodwill and patience
37	NamEC nwu na maCwu	Nyame Nwu Na Mawu		“God does not die, and so I cannot die”	Symbolizes Immortality of the Soul
38	nkcnscnkcnscn	Nkonsonkonson		“Chain or Link”	Symbolizes Interdependence, brotherhood and cooperation
39	mframadan	Mframadan		“Wind-resistant house”	Symbolizes social security, excellence and preparedness
40	kete pa	Kete Pa		“Good bed”	Symbolizes faith, love and hope
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
41	nQinQim	Nkyinkyim		“Twisting”	Symbol of toughness and adaptability
42	nsoCroCmma	Nsoromma		“A child of the heavens” or “a star”	Symbol of a person who is a leader or a guardian
43	csram	Osram		“The Moon”	Symbol of faith, patience and understanding
44	boCa mEC na mEC mmoCa woC	Boa Me Na Me Mmoa Wo		“Help me and let me help you”	Symbol of cooperation and interdependence
45	cdc NECra fiE qan	Odo Nyera Fie Kwan		“Love never loses its way home”	Symbolize love, devotion, hope and faithfulness.
46	fcfc	Fofo		“Seed of fofo plant”	Symbol of warning against jealousy and covetousness.
47	akoCben	Akoben		“War horn”	Symbolizes courage
48	akoCfECna	Akofena		“The state ceremonial swords”	Symbolizes courage
49	ZaCwu aCtikc	Gyawu Atiko		“Shaving on the back of Gyawu’s head”	Symbolizes bravery and honor.
50	qataQEC aCtikc	Kwatakye Atiko		“Special hair style of Kwatakye, a war captain of old Asante”	Symbolizes bravery and honor.
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
51	musuyidECe	Musuyidee		“Thing to remove evil”	Symbolizes sanctity, good fortune and enlightenment.
52	owuo atwECdECe	Owuo Atwedee		“The ladder of death”	Symbolizes mortality and the physical body.
53	sunsum	Sunsum		The “Soul”	Symbolizes cleanliness of spirit and spirituality
54	NamEC dua	Nyame Dua		“Tree of God”	Signifies the presence and protection of God.
55	ajo	Adwo		“Calm”	Signifies peace, tranquility and quietness.
56	abcdEC santann	Abode Santann		“Totality of the universe”	Signifies totality of natural and human creation.
57	nECa cpe se obEdi hECnEC	Nea Ope Se Obedi Hene		“He/She who wants to be a king”	Symbol of service and the qualities of a leader.
58	woC nsa daC mu a	Wo Nsa Da Mu A		“If your hands are in the dish”	Symbolizes democracy and participatory government
59	maCko Ninaa mpaCtu mmECrEC	Mako Nyinaa Mpatu Mmere		“All the peppers on the same tree do not ripen simultaneously”	Symbolizes unique individual talents and unequal development.
60	QemfECre	Kyemfere		“Potsherd (Broken pot)”	Symbolize experience, service and antiquity.
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
61	aCdu hwam	Adu Hwam		“Fragrance” or “Powerful aroma”	The king’s authority and power is felt in all households in his kingdom.
62	aprukuma	Aprukuma		“A medicinal seed”	A medicinal seed use to treat infections.
63	owuo kum NamEC	Owuo Kum Nyame		“Death killed God”	Symbolizes the invincibility of death and the power of God to overcome death.
64	anansEC ntontan	Ananse Ntontan		“Spider web”	Symbolizes wisdom, creativity and the complexities of life.
65	tumEC tEC se kosua	Tumi Te Se Kosua		“Power is like an egg”	Symbolizes the delicacy of political power, fragility of democracy and restraint.
66	kramo bcnEC	Kramo Bone		“Fake Moslem”	Symbol of the need for critical inquiry, warning against quackery and hypocrisy.
67	sECsa woC suban	Sesa Wo Suban		“Change your character”	Symbol of warning against arrogance, bad manners and negative behavior.
68	kokuromotiE	Kokuromotie		“Thumb”	Symbol of cooperation, teamwork and harmony.
69	chECnEC aCniwa	Ohene Aniwa		“The King’s eyes”	Symbol of vigilance, farsightedness, authority and power.
70	osiadan NamEC	Osiadan Nyame		“God, the builder”	Symbol of God, the Builder and Creator.
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
71	akoCma ntoCasoC	Akoma Ntoaso		“United hearts”	Symbol of agreement, togetherness and unity.
72	NamEC ye chECnEC	Nyame Ye Ohene		“God is King”	Symbol of Majesty and Supremacy of God.
73	abe dua	Abe Dua		“Palm Tree”	Symbol of wealth, resourcefulness and self sufficiency.
74	yEbESia bio	Yebehyia Bio		“We shall meet again”	Symbolizes all things in nature are linked and we shall meet again after saying goodbye.
75	aqaaba	Akwaaba		“Welcome”	Symbolizes friendliness and hospitality.
76	aban	Aban		“Fortress”	Symbolizes seat of power, strength and authority.
77	dono	Dono		“Drum”	Symbolizes appellation, praise, goodwill and rhythm.
78	dono ntoCasoC	Dono Ntoaso		“Extended drum”	Symbolizes unified action, vigilance and rejoicing.
79	chECnEC aCja	Ohene Adwa		“King’s stool”	Symbol of Authority and leadership.
80	tuo nEC akoCfECna	Tuo Ne Akofena		“Gun and States Sword”	Symbol of defense.
No	Adinkra	English	Symbol	Transliteration	Meaning
81	chECnEC kra kcnmudEC	Ohene Kra Konmude		“Royal Soul Pendant”	Symbolizes the leadership of the king.
82	chECnEC Qe	Ohene Kye		“King’s Crown”	Symbolizes royalty and legitimate authority to rule.
83	chECnEC Qinie	Ohene Kyinie		“King’s Umbrella”	Symbol of Kingship
84	chECnEC papa	Ohene Papa		“Good King”	Symbol of good governance.
85	chECnEC wuo ye ya	Ohene Wuo Ye Ya		“The King is Dead”	Symbolizes transition or passing of the king.