Adinkra Symbol Names

Level 6

Many Adinkra symbols are named with a whole Twi sentence cut short: Sankofa is san kɔ fa, three verbs that mean go back and take it.

How It Works

1. Names that are sentences
In Twi, adinkra is a cloth once worn by royalty for funerals and great occasions. Each symbol stamped on it has a name, and many names are a saying or a proverb cut down to a few words. They are not special words: they use the same grammar as everyday Twi.

2. Commands
Sankofa is san kɔ fa: san (go back), kɔ (go) and fa (take), three bare commands in a row. It is a serial verb chain in the command form. It comes from the proverb Sɛ wo werɛ fi na wosan kɔfa a, yenkyi (If you forget and go back for it, it is not taboo).

3. Negatives that state a rule
Bi nka bi, also written Obi nka obi, uses bi, short for obi (someone), twice, and nka (does not bite). Like proverbs, the plain negative states what must never happen: no one should bite another.

4. Wishes
Boa me na memmoa wo (Help me and let me help you) joins a command, boa me, to a wish with the optative nasal. After the nasal, boa becomes mmoa; see nasal mutation. The symbol name is usually written Boa me na me mmoa wo.

5. Perfect verbs
Mate masie (I have heard and kept it) is two verbs in the perfect: ma-te (I have heard) and ma-sie (I have kept). It stands for wisdom: listening well and keeping what you hear.

6. Short phrases
Gye Nyame (Except God) uses gye before a noun to mean except, as in gye sɛ. Akoko nan (the hen's foot) is a possessor + noun phrase that stands for a whole proverb: Akokɔ nan tia ba, na ɛnkum ba (The hen's foot steps on the chick, but it does not kill it).

7. Spelling
Symbol names are often printed in older or English-style spelling, with e and o for ɛ and ɔ: Akoko Nan for akokɔ nan, Se wo were fi for Sɛ wo werɛ fi. Read them with the modern spelling in mind. Many names are proverbs in miniature.

Examples (6)

  1. San kɔ fa!

    Go back and take it!

    Word by Word: return go take

    The phrase behind Sankofa: three bare commands in a row.

  2. Gye Nyame.

    Except God.

    Word by Word: except God

    Nothing happens except by God. Before a noun, gye means except.

  3. Bi nka bi.

    No one should bite another.

    Word by Word: someone not-bite someone

    Also written Obi nka obi. The plain negative states a rule for everyone.

  4. Boa me na memmoa wo.

    Help me and let me help you.

    Word by Word: help me and I-let-help you

    A command and then a wish. After the optative nasal, boa becomes mmoa.

  5. Mate masie.

    I have heard and kept it.

    Word by Word: I-have-heard I-have-kept

    Two perfect verbs. Ma- is me plus the perfect a-.

  6. Akokɔ nan tia ba, na ɛnkum ba.

    The hen's foot steps on the chick, but it does not kill it.

    Word by Word: hen foot steps-on child, and it-not-kill child

    The proverb behind the symbol Akoko nan: discipline should come with love.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the optative nasal, which turns the wish into a plain statement.

    Boa me na meboa wo.
    Boa me na memmoa wo.

    Meboa wo means I help you, as a habit. The symbol means let me help you, which needs the optative nasal: boa becomes mmoa.

  • Writing ko for kɔ in San kɔ fa.

    San ko fa!
    San kɔ fa!

    Kɔ with ɔ means go. Ko with o is a different verb, fight. The symbol name Sankofa is printed with o, but in modern spelling the vowel letter shows which verb you mean.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Adinkra Symbol NamesLevel 6

Learn This First

Adinkra names are read with commands, the nasal forms and the perfect.

Words in This Pattern

adinkra