African Adinkra Symbol Wall Plaques - A Reflection Of Akan Culture

Posted by Alexa Bliss on April 26th, 2017

Africa is a continent rich with diverse languages and groups of people. The clothing styles of many African countries have a rich history going back thousands of years. These days you can see many African-Americans choosing to enhance their style and celebrate their heritage by donning these garments. The designs of the clothes are a reflection of the African culture, and the colors and symbols that decorate them are also a reflection of their legacy. One such symbolic clothing that is known around the globe is Adinkra clothing. In addition to garments, African Adinkra symbol wall plaques are equally popular among people.

Adinkra is one of the highly valued hand-printed and hand-embroidered clothes. Its origin is traced to the Asante people of Ghana and the Gyman people of Cote’ d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). However, the production and use of Adinkra is more associated with the Asante people than any other group. Around the 19th century, the Asante people developed their unique art of Adinkra printing. Traditionally, Adinkra clothes were made and used exclusively by the royalty and spiritual leaders for very important sacred ceremonies and rituals.

Adinkra symbols are nothing if not ubiquitous. They pop up in the most unexpected places and have continued to fascinate people of all races and colors for a good reason. They are beautiful, intricate and truly culturally representative. In modern times, however, Adinkra clothes are used for a wide range of social activities. In addition to its sacred usage, it is also used to make clothing for various special occasions such as festivals, church-going, weddings, naming ceremonies, and initiation rites. Today, designers are using this art to create a wide range of products including clothing, wall plaques, and book covers.

Each of the motifs that make up the corpus of Adinkra symbolism has a name and meaning derived either from a proverb, a historical event, human attitude, animal behavior, plant life, forms and shapes of inanimate and man-made objects. Many of these motifs share a common basic form, and a slight variation in the representation may entail a change in the meaning. In Africa, a great deal of philosophical material is embedded in the proverbs, myth, and folktales, folk songs, rituals, beliefs, customs, and traditions of the people.

Between the 19th century when the symbols were first recorded and the modern times, the use of Adinkra symbols has increased. They have been used everywhere from patterned cloth to decorations on artwork. However, their most important use is in the deep significance they hold. Their existence reminds us daily that various aspects of the African culture are deep, truly symbolic, and absolutely beautiful.

So go ahead and buy African Adinkra symbol wall plaques and garments to reflect your respect for the culture in the most stylish way.