Adinkra Alphabet

Category: Ghanaian Proverbs

  • Snake

    Adinkra although thE snakE doEs not fly it CatchEs thE bird whosE homE is in thE sky. English Although the snake does not fly it catches the bird whose home is in the sky.

  • Fire and Gunpowder

    Adinkra firE and gunpowdEr do not slEEp togEthEr. English Fire and gunpowder do not sleep together.

  • Work

    Adinkra it is no shamE at all to work for monEy. English It is no shame at all to work for money.

  • Seeds

    Adinkra if all sEEds that fall wErE to grow, thEn no onE Could follow thE path undEr thE trEEs. English If all seeds that fall were to grow, then no one could follow the path under the trees.

  • Lizard

    Adinkra ckoCtre a chwe noC hoC soC noC, oNini danEC apcnQECreni. Akan (Twi) Okotre a ohwe no ho so no, onyini dane aponkyereni. English A lizard that knows how to hide grows to become a crocodile.

  • Money

    Adinkra sika ye nam sECn sECkan. Akan (Twi) Sika ye nam sen sekan. English Money is sharper than a sword.

  • Woman and Flower

    Adinkra cbaa ye nhwiren wc aCfiQifuo; nEC kunoC ye nEC ban. English A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it.

  • Antelope

    Adinkra thE antElopE says that if you stay at onE spot in thE forEst for far too long, you will bEcomE thirsty. English The antelope says that if you stay at one spot in the forest for far too long, you will become thirsty.

  • Knife

    Adinkra a knifE doEs not know who is its mastEr. English A knife does not know who is its master.