The Adinkra are a system of visual symbols developed by the Akan people of present-day Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Originally used in ceremonial contexts, these symbols now appear in everyday life across Ghana — featured in textiles, woodwork, architectural motifs, pottery, and jewellery.

Each symbol carries one or more meanings, often rooted in proverbs, historical events, animal behaviours, plant life, and spiritual beliefs. The Adinkra functions as a philosophical and ethical code - communicating values such as resilience, humility, wisdom, and interdependence.

The word Adinkra comes from the Twi language and is often translated as farewell or goodbye, referencing the early use of Adinkra cloth in funerary rites. Over time, however, the use of the symbols expanded beyond mourning traditions to become a broader visual language of the Akan and neighbouring communities.

“Of the hundreds of Adinkra signs and meanings that have been documented, the older symbols are most often linked to proverbs, folktales, folksongs and popular sayings. Newer designs are associated with more common themes, such as flora, fauna and everyday objects, or may demonstrate literacy of the alphabet through designs composed of letters in Roman script that spell out personal names or segments of proverbial expressions.”

— National Museum of African Art

In this way, the Adinkra form a kind of cultural archive, passed down through both oral and visual tradition — constantly evolving, yet rooted in deep ancestral knowledge.

At BodyByNii, we incorporate the Adinkra as integral to our storytelling and self-care philosophy. Each story you encounter is rooted in one of these symbols - used here as a prompt for reflection, transformation, and emotional resilience.

We do not claim ownership of these symbols. Rather, we honour their complexity and use them as a bridge: connecting your skin, your spirit, and your story.