 | Aban | Fence | Strength and
authority.
| |
 | Abe Dua | Palm tree | Wealth
Self-sufficiency
Toughness
Vitality
| Nipa nye abe dua na ne ho ahyia ne ho.
The human being is not like the palm that is self sufficient.
Nnua nyinaa bewu agya abe.
All trees will wither safe the palm tree.
|
 | Adinkra Hene | Adinkra King.
Chief of all the Adinkra designs;
forms the basis of adinkra printing | Symbol of greatness, charisma and leadership
This symbol is said to have played an inspiring role in the designing of other symbols. it signifies the importance of playing a leadership role.
| |
 | Adwo | Peace. | Peace/Calmness | Ohene nya ahontenafo pa a, ne bere so dwo
When the king has good counselors, then he will have a peaceful reign
|
 | Akofena | Royal/
ceremonial
sword.
| Gallantry
Valour
Bravery
| Akofena kunini ko a, wobo a fena kye no safohene
The great warrior always has a royal sword of rest even when he retires.
|
 | Akoben | War Horn
The sound of
Ako-ben is a
battle cry
| Call to arms
Readiness and
Preparedness for action or battle.
| |
 | Akoben | War Horn
(another version)
The sound of
Ako-ben is a
battle cry
| Call to arms
Readiness and
preparedness
for action or
battle.
Vigilance
| |
 | Akoko nan | The hen’s
feet
| Parenthood.
Care. Tenderness.
Protection.
Parental admonition is not intended to harm the child. (Parental discipline.)
| |
 | Akoma ntoaso | Extension of the heart.
| Understanding
Agreement or charter Unity
| |
 | Ananse | Spider web | Wisdom
Creativity
| |
 | Ani Bere | Seriousness | Diligence
Perseverance
| Ani bere a, nso gya,anka mani abere koo.
Seriousness does not show fiery eyes; else you would see my face all red.
|
 | Asaase ye duru | The earth
has weight
| Divinity of the
earth
Providence
Power/Authority
Wealth Might
| Tumi nyina ne asase
All power manates from the earth.
Asase ye duru sen epo
The earth is heavier than the sea.
|
 | Bese saka | Sack of cola
nuts
| Power
Abundance affluence
Togetherness
and unity
(agriculture and trade bring people
together)
| |
 | Bi nka bi | Bite not one another
| Peace
Harmony
Caution against strife and provocation
| |
 | Biribi wo suro | There is something in the heavens
| Hope.
Reliance on
God for inspiration.
| Nyame, biribi wo soro, na ma emeka me nsa.
God, there is something in heaven, let it get to me.
|
 | Boa me | Help me to help you
| Interdependence
Cooperation
Helping one another
| |
 | Duafe | Wooden
comb
| Feminine virtue.
Everlasting love. | |
 | Dwammi | Ram’s horn | Concealment
Humility & Strength
Wisdom & learning
| Dwannini ye asisie a, ode n’akorana na…
It is the hart and not the horns that leads a ram to bully
|
 | Eban | Fence/fort or
castle Representing
Fenced homes
| Protection
security
safety
fortress
| |
 | Epa | Handcuffs | Slavery
Equality
Law & Justice
| Onii a ne pa da wonsa no, na n’akoa ne wo
You are a slave to the one whose handcuffs you are wearing.
|
 | Ese | The teeth and the tongue | Friendship
interdependence
Advancement
Progress Strength in unity
| |
 | Fofoo | Fofoo plant (A yellow flowered plant)
| Jealosy
Envy
| Se die fofoo pe ne se gyinantwi abo bidie.
The Fofoo plant’s wish is that the gyinantwi seeds
should turn black.
|
 | Funtun | The tree/altar of the
funtunfunafu. (version of the Siamese crocodile)
| Need for unity when there is the same destiny
| |
 | Funt | Siamese Twin crocodiles joined at the stomach.
| Democracy and
oneness irrespective of cultural differences
| Funtumfunafu
denkyemfunafu, won afuru bom, nso woredidi a na woreko.
They share one stomach and yet they fight over food
|
 | Gyawu atiko | Symbol drawn by Gyawu, who was a chief of Bantama | Bravery
Valour
Fearlessness
Leadership
| |
 | Gye Nyame | Except God. | Omnipotence and immortality of God
| |
 | Hye wonye | That which cannot be burnt
| Imperishability
Endless
Forgiveness
Toughness
| Hye a wonnhye
That which cannot be burnt |
 | Kae me | Remember me.
| Loyalty
Faithfulness
| |
 | Kete pa | Good bed | Good marriage.
Love and faithfulness
| |
 | Kontire | State elders | Reliance.
Democracy
| Tikoro nko agyina
One head does not make up council. |
 | Krapa | Sanctity,
Pure in heart
| Sanctity
Purity
| Krapa te se okra okyiri fi
Sanctity, like cats, abhors filth.
|
 | Kramo Bone | The Bad | Warning against
hypocrisy
| Kramo bone amma yennhu kramo pa
We cannot tell the good from the bad because of Pretence and hypocrisy.
|
 | Kwatakye | Hair of the Hero Kwatakye
| Valour
Bravery
Leadership
| |
 | Mmusuyide | That which
removes ill luck or evil
| Good fortune
Sanctity
Spiritual
Strength
| |
 | Nea ope | Do to others
the things you want them to do to for you
| Justice | Nea ope se nkrofoo ye ma wo no, ye saa ara ma won.
Do unto others what you want others to do unto you. |
 | Nkyin kyim | Zigzag/twisting
| Playing many
roles.
(Dynamism)
Initiative
Toughness
Adaptability
Resoluteness
| Obra kwan ye
nkyinkyimiie
Life’s path is full of ups and downs; twists and turns.
|
 | Nkon son | Chain links | Human
relations
Unity
| |
 | Nkontim | Hair of the Queen’s servant
| Loyalty
Service
| |
 | Nsronma | The Star Child of
God/child of the heavens
| Reflection of God faith in God
Guardian ship.
| |
 | Nsaa | Type of hand wovencloth/Blanket
| Excellence
Authenticity
Genuineness
| Nea onim nssa na oto n’ago
The one who knows the nssa blanket is willing to buy it even when it is old
|
 | Ntesie | I have heard and kept it
| Knowledge
Wisdom
| Nyansa bun mu ne mate masie
Deep wisdom comes out of listening and keeping what is heard.
|
 | Nyame nti | Since god Exist For God’s sake By God’s
Grace.
| God’s grace.
Faith in God.
| Nyame nti mi nnwe wura
By God’s grace, I will not eat leaves to survive
|
 | Nyame nwu | God never
dies; therefore I shall not die
| Life after death | |
 | Denkyem | The crocodile.
| Prudence | Odenkyem da nsuo mu,nso onnhome nsuo, ohome mframa
The crocodile lives in water but does breathe air and not water.
|
 | Okuafo pa | Good farmer | Hardwork
Entrepreneurship
Industry
productivity
| Okuafoo pa ne obi a oye nsiyefoo, ono na ose : w’afuo so a, woye ne nyinaa.
The good and industrious farmer says: No matter how big your farm is you
tend it all.
|
 | Onyame Aniwa | God’s eye | Omnipresence of God
| Onyakopon aniwa hu
asumu asem biara.
God’s eye seees all secrets.
|
 | Osram | The moon | Patience and
understanding
| Osram mmfiti preko nntwareman.
It takes the moon some time to go round the earth.
|
 | Owuo atwidie | Ladder of death.
| Death, the ultimate fate of man.
Mortal nature of man.
Fate
| Owu atwedee obaako nforo.
All men shall climb the ladder of death.
|
 | Pempiase | Readiness | Readiness/
Preparedness
Strength and unity.
| Pempamsie se, bebebre ahooden ne koroye.
The many has strength only in unity. |
 | Sankofa | Return and get it.
Learning from the
past.
| You can always correct your mistakes.
Wisdom
Using past experiences to
build the future.
Better late than never
| Se wo were fi na wo sankofa a yennkyi.
It is not a taboo to return to fetch something you
forgot earlier.
|
 | Sankofa | Return and get it.
Learning from the past
| You can always
correct your
mistakes.
Wisdom
Using past
experiences to
build the future.
Better late than
never
| Se wo were fi na wo sankofa a yennkyi.
It is not a taboo to return to fetch something you
forgot earlier.
|
 | Tumi | Power is like an egg
| Delicacy of
political power,
Fragility of
democracy,
Restraint
| Tumi te se kosua, woso mu den a, epae; na se woanso mu yie nso a, efiri wo nsa bo famu ma epae.
Power is as fragile as an egg, when held too tightly it might break; if it is held
too loosely, it might fall and break.
|
 | Dua pa | When you climb a good tree
| Support
Cooperation
Encouragement
| Wuforo dua pa a na ye pia wo.
He who climbs a good tree is encouraged/
supported.
|
 | Fihankra | Compound house | It represents a symbol of Security and safety | |
 | Ohene Tuo | The King/Chief's gun | Symbol of defense and safety for the King | |
 | Akoma | Heart | Symbol of Patience and Tolerance | |
 | Mmra krado | The law padlock | It represents justice and supreme authority | |
 | Wawa aba | The seed of Wawa | It represent strength and toughness | |