Who Created Adinkra Symbols?

Adinkra was the name of a 19th century King of Gyaman kingdom, Nana Kofi Adinkra (now in modern day Côte d’Ivoire).

Adinkra was defeated and captured by the Ashantis for copying their “Golden Stool” which was a symbol of “absolute power and tribal cohesion”.

As King Nana Adinkra was been carried off to the home of the Asantis in Kumasi, he wore the “Adinkra Cloth” which was patterned with Adinkra symbols.

The Ashanti people then began to print these Gyaman symbols on cloth.

The Ntonso town in the Ashanti Region where the adinkra cloth is produced is now called the “Home of Adinkra”.

Adinkra Symbol in photo is “Gye Nyame” literal meaning – “Except God”, symbolic meaning – “Omnipotence and Immortality of God”.