DISCUSS FOUR SYMBOLS AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS.
A symbol is a concrete or familiar object that is used in reference to something. Symbols are widely used in various forms of African literature for exploring moral and spiritual matters as well as deep philosophical thoughts. Northrop Frye defined symbolism in his book, ‘’Anatomy of Criticism’’ as any unit of any literary structure that can be isolated for critical attention. A word, a phrase, or an image used with some kind of special reference (which is what a symbol is usually taken to mean). Often, symbolism is used when an author wants to create a certain mood in a work of literature. However, symbolism can also be defined as the use of an object, person or word to represent something …show more content…
The adinkra symbol gained rise after the Asante-Gyaman war in the 1880’s. The Asantes believed the people of Gyaman had made a replica of the golden stool so there was a war. At the end of the war, the Asantes defeated the people of Gyaman, held some people from Gyaman captive and they also seized the replica of the golden stool they made. The Gyaman chief at the time of the war was called Kofi Adinkra. After the war, the crafts men brought the cloth to Kumasi specifically Ntonso. The Asante people around the 19th century then took to painting of traditional symbols of the Gyaman’s onto cloth, a tradition that was well practiced by the latter previously the adinkra cloth was worn by royals but now, both royals and non-royals wear it. All the Adinkra symbols have relevant interpretations. For instance the adinkra symbols; akoma, adinkrahene and sankofa all have specific meanings. The ‘Akoma which is shaped like a heart symbolises patience and tolerance.it is believed that someone said to ‘have a heart in his stomach’ is very tolerant and can’t take in everything. The second adinkrah symbol which is sankofa which has its direct translation in English as ‘return and get it’. It symbolises that things that happen in our past happen for a reason and that reason is for us to learn from our past. Another symbol is the adinkrahene which is known as the chief of all adinkra symbols.it symbolises greatness, charisma and leadership.it also shows that having a leadership role is very
A symbol is a concrete or familiar object that is used in reference to something. Symbols are widely used in various forms of African literature for exploring moral and spiritual matters as well as deep philosophical thoughts. Northrop Frye defined symbolism in his book, ‘’Anatomy of Criticism’’ as any unit of any literary structure that can be isolated for critical attention. A word, a phrase, or an image used with some kind of special reference (which is what a symbol is usually taken to mean). Often, symbolism is used when an author wants to create a certain mood in a work of literature. However, symbolism can also be defined as the use of an object, person or word to represent something …show more content…
The adinkra symbol gained rise after the Asante-Gyaman war in the 1880’s. The Asantes believed the people of Gyaman had made a replica of the golden stool so there was a war. At the end of the war, the Asantes defeated the people of Gyaman, held some people from Gyaman captive and they also seized the replica of the golden stool they made. The Gyaman chief at the time of the war was called Kofi Adinkra. After the war, the crafts men brought the cloth to Kumasi specifically Ntonso. The Asante people around the 19th century then took to painting of traditional symbols of the Gyaman’s onto cloth, a tradition that was well practiced by the latter previously the adinkra cloth was worn by royals but now, both royals and non-royals wear it. All the Adinkra symbols have relevant interpretations. For instance the adinkra symbols; akoma, adinkrahene and sankofa all have specific meanings. The ‘Akoma which is shaped like a heart symbolises patience and tolerance.it is believed that someone said to ‘have a heart in his stomach’ is very tolerant and can’t take in everything. The second adinkrah symbol which is sankofa which has its direct translation in English as ‘return and get it’. It symbolises that things that happen in our past happen for a reason and that reason is for us to learn from our past. Another symbol is the adinkrahene which is known as the chief of all adinkra symbols.it symbolises greatness, charisma and leadership.it also shows that having a leadership role is very