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Adinkra_powerpoint. BCMWB_PCP_AfricanTextiles. Art Inspired / Adinkra Banners. West African Adinkra Printmaking. This is an West African printmaking project I did a few years ago with some Grade 6 students. from Pbs.org: Adinkra (ah-DEEN-krah) cloth is a hand-printed fabric made in Ghana.

West African Adinkra Printmaking

Developed by the Ashanti people, Adinkra cloths were traditionally made for royalty to wear at religious ceremonies. Through the years, people have also decorated the cloths to tell a story or to express their thoughts or feelings. Adinkra cloth is stamped and patterned with traditional Ashanti symbols. So for this project, instead of having students carve their stamps (which I have done before with knives and potatoes, but it's tricky (with the knives) and the potato doesn't seem to last long enough to finish the project), we drew our designs onto flat kitchen sponge cloths (from the Dollar Store). I gave the students handouts of real symbols and their meanings for inspiration. Students came up with their own design and it had to symbolize something personal to them. Voila! Ta da! Adinkra symbols. Adinkra are visual symbols, originally created by the Ashanti, that represent concepts or aphorisms.

Adinkra symbols

Adinkra are used extensively in fabrics, pottery, logos and advertising. They are incorporated into walls and other architectural features. Fabric adinkra are often made by woodcut sign writing as well as screen printing. Adinkra symbols appear on some traditional akan gold weights. The symbols are also carved on stools for domestic and ritual use.

Calabash adinkra stamps carved in Ntonso, Ashanti. The symbols have a decorative function but also represent objects that encapsulate evocative messages that convey traditional wisdom, aspects of life or the environment. History[edit] Ashanti oral tradition dates the arrival of adinkra among the Ashanti to the end of the 1818 Asante–Gyaman War. Adinkra cloth[edit] Adinkra cloths were traditionally only worn by royalty and spiritual leaders for funerals and other very special occasions. Symbols listed by Rattray[edit] Notes[edit] Adinkra Symbols. Adinkra symbols are of African origin and reflect a system of human values that are universal: family, integrity, tolerance, harmony, determination, & protection among many others...

Adinkra Symbols

Find a symbol that represents you. I am Shila Iris and I come to you in the spirit of the African Adinkra symbol, duafe which represents beauty, cleanliness, & desirable feminine qualities. Embrace. Tell people about this... Like this: Like Loading... Adinkra%20Symbols. 000000570.sbu. What is Adinkra? (9/16) Kids' Africa. Adinkra (ah-DEEN-krah) cloth is a hand-printed fabric made in Ghana.

Kids' Africa

Developed by the Ashanti people, Adinkra cloths were traditionally made for royalty to wear at religious ceremonies. Through the years, people have also decorated the cloths to tell a story or to express their thoughts or feelings. I've always wanted one of my own — a "royal" spider Adinkra cloth! Adinkra cloth is stamped and patterned with traditional Ashanti symbols. Each symbol has its own meaning. You can make an Adrinkra cloth at home! Tell a story about Africa's most clever spider — Anansi!

Things you'll need: Pieces of hard foam (you can also use a large rubber eraser, or a sponge) plastic knife tempera paint felt-tip marker construction paper Using the plastic knife, carve a symbol or design into a piece of foam to make a stamp. Once you have finished your stamp, choose a piece of paper to be your "cloth". Pour tempera paint onto a plate or tray, so that the paint is just covering the bottom. Adinkra_symbols. Symbols of West Africa: Nyame Nti.