Adinkra Symbols

No.AdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
1aCdinkrahECnECAdinkrahene“Chief of Adinkra Symbols”To act in Leadership role and inspire others
2bi nka biBi Nka Bi“Bite not one another”Caution against negative actions towards one another such as cheating.
3cwc foCroC adoCbeOwo Foro Adobe“Snake climb the raffia palm”Signifies persistence and diligence to achieve success
4damEC damECDame Dame“Name of a board game”Signifies intelligence and ingenuity
5ebanEban“Fence”A home with a fence is considered an ideal residence
6fawoChoCdiEFawohodie“Freedom”Independence comes with its responsibilities
7ZEC NamECGye Nyame“Except God”Symbolizes the Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresent power of God.
8hwEmuduaHwemudua“Measuring stick”Symbolizes strive towards perfection
9esEC nEC tekremaEse Ne Tekrema“The teeth and the tongue”Symbolizes unity, friendship and interdependence
10epaEpa“Handcuff”
A symbol of the uncompromising nature of the law to offenders and discourage slavery.
NoAdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
11kintinkantanKintinkantan“Puffed up extravagance”Symbolizes the nature of some individuals who are arrogant, pompous and bossy.
12mmECre danECMmere Dane“Time changes”Symbol of the change and dynamism of life.
13mpatapcMpatapo“Knot of reconciliation”Represent the bond or knot that binds parties in a dispute to a peaceful reconciliation.
14nQimuNkyimu
“Divider”
Symbolizes skillfulness and precision.
15NamEC biribi wc soroNyame Biribi Wo Soro“God’s something is in the heavens”God dwells in the heavens and he answers prayers.
16pECmpamsiEPempamsie“Sew to preserve”Preparedness and readiness
17denQemDenkyem“Crocodile”We should adapt to changing conditions in our life and the environment
18asasEC yE duruAsase Ye Duru“The Earth has weight”Symbolizes the providence and divinity of Mother Earth.
19sankcfaSankofa“Return and get it”Bringing past useful experiences into the present
20ayaAya“Fern”Symbolizes endurance and resourcefulness
NoAdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
21nECa onnim noC sua a, ohuNea Onnim No Sua A, Ohu“He/She who does not know, will know from learning”Practice makes one perfect
22bECsEC sakaBese Saka“Sack of kola nut”Symbolizes affluence, power and abundance
23wawa abaWawa Aba“Seed of the Wawa tree”Symbolizes hardiness and perseverance
24akokcnanAkokonan“The leg of a hen”Symbolizes nurturing and discipline
25duafECDuafe“Wooden comb”Symbolizes beauty and cleanliness
26fihankraFihankra“You did not say goodbye when you left home”Symbolizes security and safety
27dwECnnimmenDwennimmen“Ram’s horns”Symbolizes humility together with strength
28csram nEC nsorommaOsram Ne Nsoromma“The Moon and the Star”Symbolizes love, faithfulness and harmony
29funtunfunEfu
denQemfunEfu
Funtunfunefu
Denkyemfunefu
“Conjoined crocodiles”Democracy and unity in diversity
30mpuaCnumMpuanum“Five tufts of hair”Symbolizes loyalty and skillfulness
NoAdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
31SEC woCnSECHye Wonhye“That which cannot be burnt”Symbolizes imperishability and endurance
32matEC maCsiEMate Masie“What I hear, I keep”Symbolizes receptivity to learning and education
33ckcdECe mmcwECreOkodee
Mmowere
“The talons of the Eagle”Symbolizes strength and power
34NansapcNyansapo“Wisdom Knot”
Symbol of wisdom and intelligence
35nsaaNsaaHigh quality hand woven fabricSymbolizes quality and durability
36akoCmaAkoma“Heart”Symbolizes love, goodwill and patience
37NamEC nwu na maCwuNyame Nwu Na Mawu“God does not die, and so I cannot die”Symbolizes Immortality of the Soul
38nkcnscnkcnscnNkonsonkonson“Chain or Link”Symbolizes Interdependence, brotherhood and cooperation
39mframadanMframadanMframadan“Wind-resistant house”Symbolizes social security, excellence and preparedness
40kete paKete PaKete Pa“Good bed”Symbolizes faith, love and hope
NoAdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
41nQinQimNkyinkyimNkyinkyim“Twisting”Symbol of toughness and adaptability
42nsoCroCmmaNsorommaNsoromma“A child of the heavens” or “a star”Symbol of a person who is a leader or a guardian
43csramOsramOsram“The Moon”Symbol of faith, patience and understanding
44boa mEC na mEC mmoCa woCBoa Me Na Me Mmoa WoBoa Me Na Me Mmmoa Wo“Help me and let me help you”Symbol of cooperation and interdependence
45cdc NECra fiE qanOdo Nyera Fie KwanOdo Nyera Fie Kwan“Love never loses its way home”Symbolize love, devotion, hope and faithfulness.
46fcfcFofoFofo“Seed of fofo plant”Symbol of warning against jealousy and covetousness.
47akoCbenAkobenAkoben“War horn”Symbolizes courage
48akoCfECnaAkofenaAkofena“The state ceremonial swords”Symbolizes courage
49ZaCwu aCtikcGyawu AtikoGyawu Atiko“Shaving on the back of Gyawu’s head”Symbolizes bravery and honor.
50qataQEC aCtikcKwatakye AtikoKwatakye Atiko“Special hair style of Kwatakye, a war captain of old Asante”Symbolizes bravery and honor.
NoAdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
51musuyidECeMusuyideeMusuyidee“Thing to remove evil”Symbolizes sanctity, good fortune and enlightenment.
52owuo atwECdECeOwuo AtwedeeOwuo Atwedee“The ladder of death”Symbolizes mortality and the physical body.
53sunsumSunsumSunsumThe “Soul”Symbolizes cleanliness of spirit and spirituality
54NamEC duaNyame DuaNyame Dua“Tree of God”Signifies the presence and protection of God.
55ajoAdwoAdwo“Calm”Signifies peace, tranquility and quietness.
56abcdEC santannAbode SantannAbode Santann“Totality of the universe”Signifies totality of natural and human creation.
57nECa cpe se obEdi hECnECNea Ope Se Obedi HeneNea Ope Se Obedi Hene“He/She who wants to be a king”Symbol of service and the qualities of a leader.
58woC nsa daC mu aWo Nsa Da Mu AWo Nsa Da Mu A“If your hands are in the dish”Symbolizes democracy and participatory government
59maCko Ninaa mpaCtu mmECrECMako Nyinaa Mpatu MmereMako Nyinaa Mpatu Mmere“All the peppers on the same tree do not ripen simultaneously”Symbolizes unique individual talents and unequal development.
60QemfECreKyemfereKyemfere“Potsherd (Broken pot)”Symbolize experience, service and antiquity.
NoAdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
61aCdu hwamAdu HwamAdu Hwam“Fragrance” or “Powerful aroma”The king’s authority and power is felt in all households in his kingdom.
62aprukumaAprukumaAprukuma“A medicinal seed”A medicinal seed use to treat infections.
63owuo kum NamECOwuo Kum NyameOwuo Kum Nyame“Death killed God”Symbolizes the invincibility of death and the power of God to overcome death.
64anansEC ntontanAnanse NtontanAnanse Ntontan“Spider web”Symbolizes wisdom, creativity and the complexities of life.
65tumi tEC se kosuaTumi Te Se KosuaTumi Te Se Kosua“Power is like an egg”Symbolizes the delicacy of political power, fragility of democracy and restraint.
66kramo bcnECKramo BoneKramo Bone“Fake Moslem”Symbol of the need for critical inquiry, warning against quackery and hypocrisy.
67sECsa woC subanSesa Wo SubanSesa Wo Suban“Change your character”Symbol of warning against arrogance, bad manners and negative behavior.
68kokuromotiEKokuromotieKokuromotie“Thumb”Symbol of cooperation, teamwork and harmony.
69chECnEC aCniwaOhene AniwaOhene Aniwa“The King’s eyes”Symbol of vigilance, farsightedness, authority and power.
70osiadan NamECOsiadan NyameOsiadan Nyame“God, the builder”Symbol of God, the Builder and Creator.
NoAdinkraEnglishSymbolTransliterationMeaning
71akoCma ntoCasoCAkoma NtoasoAkoma Ntoaso“United hearts”Symbol of agreement, togetherness and unity.
72NamEC ye chECnECNyame Ye OheneNyame Ye Ohene“God is King”Symbol of Majesty and Supremacy of God.
73abe duaAbe DuaAbe Dua“Palm Tree”Symbol of wealth, resourcefulness and self sufficiency.
74yEbESia bioYebehyia BioYebehyia Bio“We shall meet again”Symbolizes all things in nature are linked and we shall meet again after saying goodbye.
75aqaabaAkwaaba“Welcome”Symbolizes friendliness and hospitality.
76abanAban“Fortress”Symbolizes seat of power, strength and authority.
77donoDono“Drum”Symbolizes appellation, praise, goodwill and rhythm.
78dono ntoCasoCDono Ntoaso“Extended drum”Symbolizes unified action, vigilance and rejoicing.