AKAN CLOTHS: FACTORY-MADE WAX AND NON-WAX PRINTS AKAN CULTURAL SYMBOLS PROJECT AKAN CLOTH ADINKRA KENTE KENTE MOTIFS WAX & NONWAX PRINTS ASAFO FLAGS AKUNINTAM |
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SAMPLES OF AKAN WOMEN'S FASHION DESIGNS Clothing and coiffure have close links to social status and identity of the Akan woman. The Akan woman's clothing consists of a top (kaba), a bottom wrap-around or long skirt (asee ntoma), and a middle piece (finimfini or abosoo) that may be used to carry a baby on the back by the child-bearing woman. The three pieces worn together signify the age or marital status of the woman. The top and the bottom pieces are worn by a young woman or teenager. KABA DESIGN CALLED THREE SISTERS KABA WITH SLEEVE DESIGN CALLED ECOMOG
The lower cloth (asee ntoma or abosoo shows the slit style)
TWO SAMPLES OF KABA AND LONG WRAP-AROUND SKIRT
The section below is a presentation of samples of factory produced wax and non-wax fabric designs that are popular with the Akan. These examples show the names and meanings the Akan have assigned to these designs which may be called by different names by their manufacturers. SAMPLES OF FACTORY-MADE WAX AND NON-WAX PRINTS NKRUMAH PENCIL (or PEN)
Recent development is to name the cloths in English. Two examples are given below. HIGH SOCIETY MY HANDS ARE BLESSED
Particular cloths have been named for the funerals of certain individuals. Popular ones include Major Kwame Asante and Ama Serwaa. Ama Serwaa
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ADUKURO MU NSUO - GROVE WATER
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ADUKURO MU NSUO - GROVE WATER From the expression: Adukuro mu nsuo akonno-akonno, manya bi ama me mpona anom! Literal translation: May I find some sweet grove water to offer to my lover! |
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ABCD - ALPHABETS
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ABCD - ALPHABETS
From the proverb: Suukuu nko na nyansa nko. Literal translation: Attending school does not mean that one would be wise. |
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NKASA - PRECIOUS BEADS MAKE NO NOISE
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AHONNEE PA NKASA - PRECIOUS BEADS MAKE NO NOISE From the proverb: Ahonnee pa nkasa. Literal translation: Precious beads make no noise. That is, empty barrels make the most noise. A good person needs not blow his/her own horns. |
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KOFORIDUA FRAWASE - KOFORIDUA FLOWERS
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KOFORIDUA FRAWASE - KOFORIDUA FLOWERS Symbol of URBANIZATION, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, and CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION From the expression: Koforidua
nhwiren, dea mede wo reye! |
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AFE BI YE ASIANE - INAUPICIOUS YEAR Symbol of MISFORTUNE, BAD LUCK, and IINAUSPICIOUS TIMES From the expression: Afe bi ye asiane. Literal translation: Some years are inauspicious or unlucky. |
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WO NSA AKYI -THE BACK OF ONE'S HAND
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WO NSA AKYI -THE BACK OF ONE'S HAND From the proverb: Wo nsa akyi beye wo de a, ennte se wo nsa yamu. Literal translation: The back of one's hand does not taste as good as the palm does. |
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SIKA TU SE ANOMMAA - MONEY FLIES LIKE A BIRD
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SIKA TU SE ANOMMAA - MONEY FLIES LIKE A BIRD From the maxim: Sika tu se anommaa. Literal translation: Money flies like a bird. Money not properly handled will be lost. Bad investment decisions will cause one to lose one's money. |
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AKYEKYEDEE AKYI - TORTOISE BACK
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AKYEKYEDEE AKYI - TORTOISE BACK From the proverb: Huriye si akyekyedee akyi a, osi ho kwa. Or, Akyekyedee a ope ne yere amanee na ose wo m'akyiri mmesa ma me. Literal translation: The tsetse-fly sits on the back of the tortoise in vain, it cannot suck any blood through the hard shell. Or, When the tortoise wants to get his wife into trouble he asks her to plait the hair on his hairless back. Engaging in futile enterprise serves one no good.
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ANI BERE A, ENSO GYA - FIRE IS NOT SPARKED IN EYES RED WITH ANGER
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ANI BERE A, ENSO GYA - FIRE IS NOT SPARKED IN EYES RED WITH ANGER Symbol of PATIENCE, SELF-CONTROL, SELF-DISCIPLINE, and SELF-CONTAINMENT From the proverb: Ani bere a, enso gya. Or, Enye obiara a ne bo afu na omuna. Literal translation: No matter how flaming red one's eyes may be, fire is not sparked in one's eyes. Or, Every frowned face does not necessarily depict anger.
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ODEHYEE KYINIIE - ROYAL UMBRELLA
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ODEHYEE KYINIIE - ROYAL UMBRELLA Symbol of AUTHORITY, LEGITIMACY, PROTECTION and SECURITY From the expression: Nea kyiniie si ne so ne ohene. Literal translation: He who has umbrella over his head is the king.
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BLOCKS
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BLOCKS From the expression: Wo nni sika wonntwa blocks. Or, Yebisa wo fie woasi, nnye wo sika dodo a wo wo. Literal translation: You do no build a block house if you do not have money. Or, We ask to be shown one's house, not how much wealth one has acquired.
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NIPA TIRE NYE BOFERE - THE HUMAN MIND IS NOT LIKE THE PAPAYA FRUIT
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NIPA TIRE NYE BOFERE - THE HUMAN MIND IS NOT LIKE THE PAPAYA FRUIT From the proverb: Nipa tire nye bofere na yeapaa mu ahwe dea ewo mu. Literal translation: The human mind is not like the papaya fruit to be split open to see what is on the inside.
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HUHUUHU - RUMORS
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HUHUUHU - RUMORS From the expression: Huhuuhu nye me hu. Literal translation: Rumors do not scare me.
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ACHIMOTA
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ACHIMOTA This cloth commemorates the founding of the Achimota School and College in 1927 by the then Governor of the Gold Coast, Gordon Guggisberg. The first Principal, Rev A. G. Fraser was assisted by Dr. Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey, a Ghanaian. The Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorail Lectures series, given by the University of Ghana, honors the contribution of these three men to the development of formal education in Ghana. Achimota's curriculum was very much influenced by the Hampton Institute in Virginia, U. S., and Booker T. Washington's Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, U. S. Achimota at one time or the other comprised kindergarten, teacher training, and university departments. Parts of the College were transferred to Winneba to start the Specialist Training College, now part of the University College of Education. Other parts were transferred to the new University College at Kumasi, now the University of Science and Technology. Achimota now consists of elementary and secondary schools. The logo of Achimota, the black and white keys of the piano (as shown on the top part of the picture on the left), symbolizes harmony and unity in diversity. |
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AFA ME NWA - YOU HAVE TAKEN AS CHEAP AND EASY AS A SNAIL You have taken me as cheap and easy as the snail |
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OKUN PA - GOOD HUSBAND
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OKUN PA - GOOD HUSBAND
From the expression: Okun pa ho ye na. Literal translation: A good husband is hard to come by. |
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AKAN CULTURAL
SYMBOLS PROJECT AKAN CLOTH ADINKRA KENTE KENTE MOTIFS WAX & NONWAX PRINTS ASAFO FLAGS AKUNINTAM |
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Some wax and non-wax prints combine written proverbs with
visual forms to express certain Akan beliefs, values, and social relations. Sometimes it
is simply the visual form on the cloth that elicits the spoken proverb. 
From 1958 to about 1964, Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana had a penchant to use
his pen to sign deportation and detention orders as a method of controlling political
opponents. Some political opponents had resorted to violence and several unsuccessful
attempts were made on his life by his political opponents. His pen was, therefore,
considered mightier than the sword. This cloth was named Nkrumah pencil
(or Nkrumah pen) to obliquely reflect the political reality of those
times. When Nkrumah's government was overthrown by the military in February 1966, the name
of the cloth suddenly became pencil (or pen). In recent years, as part of the
rehabilitation of the positive image of Nkrumah, the cloth has taken on its former name of
Nkrumah pencil (or Nkrumah pen).
Ama Serwaa wuo ye ya
- Ama Serwaa's death is painful or sorrowful.
