Kente Cloth Adinkra Symbols & Meaning
Below are the meanings of Adinkra symbols that you may find on Kente Cloths. These are different from Kente Cloth Weave Patterns & Meaning
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“chief of adinkra symbols” |
greatness, charisma, leadership |
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“war horn” |
vigilance, wariness |
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“sword of war” |
courage, valor |
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“the leg of a hen” |
mercy, nurturing |
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“the heart” |
patience & tolerance |
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“linked hearts” |
understanding, agreement |
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“spider’s web” |
wisdom, creativity |
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“the Earth has weight” |
divinity of Mother Earth |
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“fern” |
endurance, resourcefulness |
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“sack of cola nuts” |
affluence, abundance, unity |
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“no one should bite the other” |
peace, harmony |
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“help me and let me help you” |
cooperation, interdependence |
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name of a board game |
intelligence, ingenuity |
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“crocodile” |
adaptability |
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“wooden comb” |
beauty, hygiene, feminine qualities |
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“ram’s horns” |
humility and strength |
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“fence” |
love, safety, security |
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“handcuffs” |
law, justice, slavery |
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“the teeth and the tongue” |
friendship, interdependence |
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“independence” |
independence, freedom, emancipation |
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“house/compound” |
security, safety |
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“a yellow-flowered plant” |
jealousy, envy |
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“siamese crocodiles” |
democracy, unity in diversity |
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“except for God” |
supremacy of God |
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“measuring stick” |
examination, quality control |
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“that which cannot be burnt” |
imperishability, endurance |
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“good bed” |
good marriage |
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“puffed up extravagance” |
arrogance, extravagance |
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“hairstyle of Kwatakye, a war hero” |
bravery, valor |
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“what I hear, I keep” |
wisdom, knowledge, prudence |
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“I shall marry you” |
commitment, perseverance |
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“wind-resistant house” |
fortitude, preparedness |
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“time changes” |
change, life’s dynamics |
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“that which removes ill luck” |
good fortune, sanctity |
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“knot of reconciliation” |
peacemaking, reconciliation |
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“five tufts” (of hair) |
priestly office, loyalty, adroitness |
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“he who does not know can know from learning” |
knowledge, life-long education |
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“he who wants to be king” |
service, leadership |
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“chain links” |
unity, human relations |
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“tree of god” |
God’s protection and presence |
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the crossed divisions made on adinkra cloth before printing |
skillfulness, precision |
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“twistings” |
initiative, dynamism, versatility |
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type of hand-woven cloth |
excellence, genuineness, authenticity |
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“child of the heavens” |
guardianship |
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“God is in the heavens” |
hope |
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“God never dies, therefore I cannot die” |
life after death |
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“by God’s grace” |
faith & trust in God |
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“God is King” |
majesty and supremacy of God |
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“wisdom knot” |
wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience |
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“love never loses its way home” |
power of love |
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“talons of the eagle” |
bravery, strength |
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“By God’s grace, all will be well” |
hope, providence, faith |
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“the moon and the star” |
love, faithfulness, harmony |
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“snake climbing the raffia tree” |
steadfastness, prudence, diligence |
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“the ladder of death” |
mortality |
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“sew in readiness” |
readiness, steadfastness |
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“return and get it” |
learn from the past |
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(alternate version) |
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“I change or transform my life” |
transformation |
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“the enemy will stew in his own juice” |
jealousy |
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“seed of the wawa tree” |
hardiness, toughness, perseverance |
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“when you climb a good tree” |
support, cooperation |
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“if your hands are in the dish” |
democracy, pluralism |
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