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Aban |
Fence |
Strength and Authority |
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Abe Dua |
Palm Tree |
Wealth, Self-Sufficiency, Vitality |
Nipa nye abe dua na ne ho ahyia ne ho; The human being is not like the palm that is selfsufficient.
Nnua nyinaa bewu agya abe; All trees will wither safe the palm tree. |
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Adikrahene Dua |
Adinkra King Stamp |
Greatness, Royalty |
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Adinkrahene |
Adinkra King. Chief of all the Adinkra designs; Forms the basis of Adinkra printing |
Greatness, Royalty |
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Adwera |
Watery Shrub |
Purity, Sanctity, Chastity, Good Fortune, Consecration, Cleanliness |
Adwera nsuo, wo ne nkwansuo, nsu korogyenn a wohuru nso wonhye; Water of life, you are the pure crystal clean water that boils but, does not burn. |
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Adwo |
Peace |
Peace, Calmness |
Ohene nya ahontenafo pa a, ne bere so dwo; When the king has good counselors, then he will have a peaceful reign. |
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Agyinduwura |
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Faithfulness, Alertness, Dutifulness |
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Akoben |
War Horn; The sound of Akoben is a battle cry. |
Vigilance, Call to arms, Readiness and Preparedness for action or battle. |
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Akofena |
Sword of War |
Courage, Valor |
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Akokonan |
The Leg of a Hen |
Parenthood, Care, Tenderness, Protection, Mercy, Nurturing, Parental Discipline |
Akoko nan tia ba, na ennkum no; The hen treads upon its chicks but it does not intend to kill them. |
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Akoma |
The Heart |
Patience, Tolerance, Love and Faithfulness |
Nya Akoma; Take heart. |
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Akoma Ntoso |
Linked Hearts |
Understanding, Agreement, Unity |
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Ananse Ntontan |
Spider Web |
Wisdom, Creativity |
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Ani Bere |
Seriousness |
Diligence, Perseverance |
Ani bere a, nso gya, anka mani abere koo; Seriousness does not show fiery eyes, else you would see my face all red. |
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Asase Ye Duru |
The Earth has Weight |
Divinity of Mother Earth, Providence, Power, Authority, Wealth, Might |
Tumi nyina ne asase; All power emanates from the earth.
Asase ye duru sen epo; The earth is heavier than the sea |
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Aya |
The Fern |
Defiance, Endurance, Resourcefulness |
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Bese Saka |
Sack of Cola Nuts |
Affluence, Abundance, Unity |
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Bi Nnka Bi |
Bite Not One Another |
Peace, Harmony, Caution Against Strife and Provocation |
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Biribi Wo Soro |
There is something in the Heavens |
Hope |
Nyame, biribi wo soro, na ma embeka me nsa; God, there is something in heaven, let it get to me |
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Boa Me Na Me Boa Wo |
Help Me to Help You |
Interdependence, Cooperation |
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Dame Dame |
A Board Game |
Intelligence, Ingenuity |
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Denkyem |
Crocodile |
Adaptability |
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Dono |
Drum |
Praise |
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Duafe |
Wooden Comb |
Beauty, Hygiene, Feminine Qualities |
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Dwannimmen |
Ram's Horn |
Concealment, Humility and Strength, Wisdom and Learning |
Dwannini ye asisie a, ode n'akorana na...; It is the heart and not the horns that leads a ram to bully. |
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Eban |
Fence |
Love, Safety, Security |
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Epa |
Handcuffs |
Slavery, Equality, Law and Justice |
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Ese Ne Tekrema |
The Teeth and the Tongue |
Friendship, Interdependence, Strength in Unity |
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Fafanto |
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Tenderness, Gentleness |
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Fawohudie |
Freedom |
Freedom, Liberty |
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Fihankra |
House |
Safety, Security |
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Fofo |
A Yellow-Flowered Plant |
Jealousy, Envy |
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Funtumfunafu Denkyem Funafu |
Siamese Crocodiles |
Democracy, Unity in Diversity |
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Gye Nyame |
Except for God |
Supremacy of God, Omnipotence and Immortality of God |
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Hwemudua |
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Excellence, Superior Quality |
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Hye Won Hye |
That Which Cannot Be Burnt |
Imperishability, Endless, Forgiveness, Toughness |
Hye wonnhye; He who burns be not burned. |
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Kae Me |
Remember Me |
Loyalty, Faithfulness |
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Kete Pa |
Good Bed |
Good Marriage, Love, Faithfulness |
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Kintinkantan |
Puffed Up Extravagance |
Arrogance, Extravagance |
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Kojo Baiden |
Rays |
Cosmos, Omnipresence |
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Kontire Ne Akwamu |
State Elders |
Reliance, Democracy |
One head does not make up council. |
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Krado |
Seal of Law and Order |
The Court's Authority |
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Kramo Bone |
The bad make it difficult for the good to be noticed. |
Warning Against Deception and Hypocrisy |
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Kuntinkantan |
Do not boast. Do not be filled with pride. |
Need for Humility and Service, Modesty |
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Kwatakye Atiko |
Hair of the Hero Kwatakye |
Valor, Bravery, Leadership |
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Mako |
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Mate Masie |
I have heard and kept it |
Knowledge, Wisdom |
Nyansa bun mu ne mate masie; Deep wisdom comes out of listening and keeping what is heard. |
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Me Ware Wo |
I Shall Marry You |
Commitment |
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Mframadan |
Wind-Resistant House |
Fortitude, Preparedness |
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Mmere Dane |
Time Changes |
Change, Life's Dynamics |
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Mmomudwan |
Unity |
Unity, Togetherness |
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Mmra Krado |
Seal of Law and Order |
The Court's Authority, Law and Order |
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Mmusuyidee |
That which removes ill luck or evil |
Good Fortune, Sanctity, Spiritual Strength |
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Mpatapo |
Knot of Reconciliation |
Reconciliation, Peacemaking |
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Mpuannum |
Five Tufts of Hair |
Skillfulness, Priestly Office, Loyalty, Adroitness |
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Nkonsonkonson |
Chain Links |
Unity, Human Relations |
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Nea Onnim No Sua A Ohu |
He who does not know can know from Learning |
Knowledge |
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Nea Ope Se Nkrofoo Ye Ma Wo No, Ye Saa Ara Ma Won |
Do to others the things you want them to do to for you. |
Justice |
Nea ope se nkrofoo ye ma wo no, ye saa ara ma won; Do unto others what you want others to do unto you. |
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Nea Ope Se Obedi Hene |
He Who Wants to be King |
Leadership |
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Nkontim |
Hair of the Queen's Servant |
Loyalty, Service |
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Nkuma Kese |
The Great Okra |
Supremacy, Superiority |
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Nkyimu |
The crossed divisions made on Adinkra cloth before printing |
Skillfulness, Precision |
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Nkyinkyim |
Zigzag, Twisting |
Initiative, Toughness, Adaptability, Resoluteness |
Obra kwan ye nkyinkyimiie; Life's path is full of ups and downs; twists and turns. |
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Nnonnowa |
Double Drum |
Valor, Strength |
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Nsaa |
Type of hand-woven cloth |
Excellence, Genuineness, Authenticity |
Nea onnim nsaa oto n'ago; He who does not know authentic Nsaa will buy the fakes. |
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Nserewa |
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Wealth, Abundance, Affluence |
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Nsoromma |
Child of the Heavens |
Guardianship |
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Nya Abotere |
Be Patient |
Patience, Calmness |
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Nyame Akruma |
God's Axe |
Stealth, Righteous Might |
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Nyame Biribi Wo Soro |
God is in the Heavens |
Hope |
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Nyame Dua |
Altar of God |
God's Presence, Protection |
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Nyame Nnwu Na Mawu |
God never dies, therefore I cannot die |
Life after Death |
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Nyame Nti |
By God's Grace |
Faith and Trust in God |
Nyame nti mi nnwe wura; By God's grace, I will not eat leaves to survive. |
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Nyame Ye Ohene |
God is King |
Majesty and Supremacy of God |
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Nyansapo |
Wisdom Knot |
Wisdom, Ingenuity, Intelligence, Patience |
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Odo Nyera Fie Kwan |
Love never loses its way home |
Power of Love, Faithfulness |
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Ohen Adwae |
The King's Stool |
State, Chieftaincy |
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Ohene |
King |
Wisdom |
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Ohene Aniwa |
King's Eye |
Beauty, Vigilance |
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Ohene Tuo |
The King's Gun |
Greatness |
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Okodee Mmowere |
Eagle's Talons |
Bravery, Strength, Unity |
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Okuafo Pa |
Good Farmer |
Hardwork, Entrepreneurship, Industry, Productivity |
Okuafoo pa ne obi a oye nsiyefoo, ono na ose : w'afuo so a, woye ne nyinaa; The good and industrious farmer says: No matter how big your farm is you tend it all. |
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Onyakopon Adom Nti Biribiara Beye Yie |
By God's grace, all will be well |
Hope, Providence, Faith |
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Onyakopon Aniwa |
God's Eye |
Omnipresence of God |
Onyakopon aniwa hu asumu asem biara; God's eye seees al secrets |
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Onyakopon Ne Yen Ntena |
May God be with Us |
God's Presence and Protection |
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Osidan |
The Builder |
Creativity |
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Osram |
The Moon |
Patience and Understanding |
Osram mmfiti preko nntwareman; It takes the moon some time to go round the earth. |
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Osram Ne Nsoromma |
The Moon and the Star |
Love, Faithfulness, Fondness |
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Owo Foro Adobe |
Snake Climbing the Palm Tree |
Steadfastness, Prudence, Diligence, Performing the Impossible |
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Owuo Atwedee |
Ladder of Death |
Death, Mortal nature of man, Fate |
Owu atwedee obaako nforo; All men shall climb the ladder of death. |
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Owuo Kum Nyame |
Death Killed God |
Invincibility of Death, Power of God to Overcome Death |
Nyame boo owuo na owuo kum Nyame; na Nyame na ote nanka aduro nti odii owuo so nkonim; God
created death and death killed God, yet the Eternal One also created
the antidote to the venom of death, and God, therefore, overcame death. |
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Pa Gya |
Striking of Fire |
War |
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Pempamsie |
Sew in Readiness |
Readiness, Steadfastness, Strength and Unity |
Pempamsie se, bebebre ahooden ne koroye; That which will not overcome |
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Sankofa |
Learning From the Past |
Wisdom, Using past experiences to build the future |
Se wo were fin a wo sankofa a yennkyi; It is not a taboo to return to fetch something you forgot earlier on. |
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Sepow |
Knife |
Justice |
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Sesa Woruban |
Ghange your Life |
Transformation, A New Beginning |
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Sunsum |
The Soul |
Spirituality, Purity, Everlasting |
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Tabon |
Paddle |
Courage, Hard Work |
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Tamfo Bebre |
The Enemy Shall Suffer |
Jealousy |
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Tumi Te Se Kosua |
Power is like an Egg |
Delicacy of Political Power, Fragility of Democracy, Restraint |
Tumi te se kosua, woso mu den a, epae; na se woanso mu yie nso a, efiri wo nsa bo famu ma epae; Power is as fragile as an egg, when held too tightly it may break; but if held too loosely, it may fall. |
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Tuo Ne Akofena |
Gun and State Sword |
Power, Responsibility, Authority, Legitimacy, National Security and Protection, Military Prowess |
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Wawa Aba |
Seed of the Wawa Tree |
Skillfulness |
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Wo Nsa Da Mu A |
If you have your hands in the dish |
Democracy, Pluralism |
Wo nsa da mu a, wonni nnya wo; If your hands are in the dish, people do not eat everything and leave you nothing. |
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Wuforo Dua Pa A |
When You Climb a Good Tree |
Support, Cooperation, Encouragement |
Wuforo dua pa a na ye pia wo; He who climbs a good tree is encouraged/supported. |
