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DescriptionAdinkra Rattray.JPG
English: Adinkra symbols, including first documented occurence of sankofa symbol
Rattray gives the names of the symbols as follows:
1. Gyawu Atiko, lit. the back of Gyawu's head. Gyawu was a sub-chief of Bantama who at the annual Odwira ceremony is said to have had his hair shaved in this fashion.
2. Akoma ntoaso, lit. the joined hearts.
3. Epa, handcuffs. See also No. 16.
4. Nkyimkyim, the twisted pattern.
5. Nsirewa, cowries.
6. Nsa, from a design of this name found on nsa cloths.
7. Mpuannum, lit. five tufts (of hair).
8. Duafe. the wooden comb.
9. Nkuruma kese, lit. dried okros.
10. Aya, the fern; the word also means ' I am not afraid of you ', ' I am independent of you' and the wearer may imply this by wearing it.
11. Aban, a two-storied house, a castle; this design was formerly worn by the King of Ashanti alone.
12. Nkotimsefuopua, certain attendants on the Queen Mother who dressed their hair in this fashion. It is really a variation of the swastika.
13 and 14 Both called Sankofa, lit. turn back and fetch it. See also Fig. 149 , No. 27.
15. Kuntinkantan, lit. bent and spread out ; nkuntinkantan is used in the sense of ' do not boast, do not be arrogant '.
16. Epa, handcuffs, same as No. 3.
Date
Source
R. S. Rattray, Religion and Art in Ashanti (Oxford, 1927), 265.
Author
Robert Sutherland Rattray
Licensing
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
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{{Information |Description ={{en|1=Adinkra symbols, including first documented occurence of sankofa symbol}} |Source =R. S. Rattray, Religion and Art in Ashanti (Oxford, 1927), 265. |Author =Robert Sutherland Rattray |Date =19