Symbols and Proverbs

Adinkra cloth

Ghana, Ntonso; Asante peoples

Late 20^th century

Rayon, dye made from tree bark
Collection of Barbara and Bill McCann

In Ghana the symbols stamped on Asante adinkra cloths are a visualization of proverbs that embody cultural ideals, social understandings, and popular sayings.  Beautiful as many of the adinkra cloths are, they are not intended to be seen for purely aesthetic reasons; it is the meanings that are most important, therefore symbols are chosen with the utmost care.

Appliqué cloth

Republic of Benin; Fon peoples

Late 20^th century

Cotton
Collection of Barbara and Bill McCann

A hundred years ago the appliquéd cloths of the Fon people (located in present-day Republic of Benin) were tools of elite power whose production and use were controlled by kings. The cloths communicate oral and other traditions through the use of emblematic motifs. A popular form among tourists is the kinglist cloth in which emblems of specific kings are arranged in roughly chronological order. What is often regarded as violent imagery has been subdued to accommodate tourists’ tastes and in some cases emblems have been removed entirely.

Commemorative cloth (Kanga)

Tanzania

2008

Cotton and polyester blend
Collection of Barbara and Bill McCann

East African kanga cloths are worn by women who use them as a form of communication. Each cloth has proverbial texts printed on it that “say” something in the absence of spoken language. Kanga cloths are a means for women to address issues that are taboo in their society. 

Think about how you and your community use symbols to communicate.  Are the meanings cross-cultural or do they require specific information to understand?  In order to appreciate the artistic production of another culture, is it necessary to be literate in its visual vocabulary?  What are the implications of changing particular symbols to suit an external audience?