what would be the most historically accurate context in which to see an akan linguists staff
Sankofa (pronounced SAHN-koh-fah) is a word in the Twi language of Ghana meaning "to retrieve" (literally "become back and become"; san - to render; ko - to go; fa - to fetch, to seek and take) and also refers to the Bono Adinkra symbol represented either with a stylized middle shape or by a bird with its head turned backwards while its feet confront forward carrying a precious egg in its rima oris. Sankofa is often associated with the proverb, "Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates as: "It is not incorrect to go back for that which you have forgotten."[1] [2]
The sankofa bird appears frequently in traditional Akan fine art, and has also been adopted as an of import symbol in an African-American and African Diaspora context to represent the need to reflect on the by to build a successful hereafter. It is i of the most widely dispersed adinkra symbols, appearing in modern jewelry, tattoos, and clothing.
Akan symbolism [edit]
The Akan people of Ghana use an adinkra symbol to represent the same concept. One version of it is similar to the eastern symbol of a centre, and another is that of a bird with its caput turned backwards taking an egg off its back. It symbolizes taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the nowadays in order to brand positive progress through the benevolent employ of knowledge. Adinkra symbols are used past the Akan people to limited proverbs and other philosophical ideas.
The sankofa bird also appears on carved wooden Akan stools,[3] in Akan goldweights, on some ruler's state umbrella or parasol (ntuatire) finials and on the staff finials of some court linguists.[4] It functions to foster mutual respect and unity in tradition.[v]
Use in N America and the Uk [edit]
During a edifice digging in Lower Manhattan in 1991, a cemetery for free and enslaved Africans was discovered. Over 400 remains were identified, merely one coffin in particular stood out. Nailed into its wooden lid were fe tacks, 51 of which formed an enigmatic, heart-shaped pattern that could be a sankofa symbol.[6] [vii] The site is now a national monument, known as the African Burying Ground National Monument, administered by the National Park Service. A copy of the design found on the coffin hat is prominently carved onto a big blackness granite memorial at the center of the site.[8]
The National Museum of African American History and Culture uses the middle-shaped symbol on its website.[9] The "mouse over" for the image reads: "The Sankofa represents the importance of learning from the past."
Sankofa symbols prove themselves all over cities similar Washington, DC and New Orleans, particularly in fence designs.
Janet Jackson has a sankofa tattoo on her inner right wrist. The symbol is also featured in her 1997 album The Velvet Rope, as well every bit on the supporting tour.
Sankofa is an event used by Saint Louis University to honor African-American educatee graduates and students who graduate with degrees in African American studies.
The symbol and proper noun were used in the 1993 movie Sankofa by Haile Gerima, besides as in the graphic championship of the film 500 Years Afterwards by Owen 'Alik Shahadah.
A UK stage production by Adzido Pan-African Dance Ensemble, scripted by Margaret Busby and premiered in 1999, was entitled Sankofa.[10]
The African-American cord band Sankofa Strings, founded in 2005 by Sule Greg C. Wilson, Rhiannon Giddens, and Dom Flemons, was featured in the 2007 jug ring documentary Chasin' Gus' Ghost. The band cocky-released the CD Colored Aristocracy in 2006. A 2d iteration of the band Sankofa, with Wilson and Flemons, as well equally Ndidi Onukwulu and Allison Russell, released the CD The Uptown Strut in 2012.
Cassandra Wilson recorded the song "Sankofa", which appeared on her 1993 album Blue Light 'til Dawn.
A Sankofa bird appears several times in the BBC Television testify Taboo. Information technology was carved into the flooring of a slave transport past James Keziah Delaney and appears as a tattoo on his upper back and as a cartoon within the fireplace of his mother'due south erstwhile room.
The protagonist in Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor goes past the proper noun Sankofa[11]
References [edit]
W. Bruce Willis, The Adinkra Dictionary: A visual primer on the language of Adinkra, Pyramid Complex (1998), ISBN 0-9661532-0-0
Notes [edit]
- ^ The Spirituals Project at the University of Denver. "African Tradition, Proverbs, and Sankofa". Archived from the original on xx April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ DeMello, Margo (2014-05-30). Inked: Tattoos and Trunk Fine art effectually the World [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN978-1-61069-076-8.
- ^ An instance is shown at conradiator.com
- ^ An case is shown on the myfundi.co.za page on the gold and proverbs of West Africa Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ fa.indiana.edu site on Akan goldweights Archived 2012-08-02 at archive.today
- ^ Seeman, Erik R. (Jan 2010). "Reassessing the 'Sankofa Symbol' in New York'south African Burial Ground" (PDF). William and Mary Quarterly. 67: 101–22. doi:10.5309/willmaryquar.67.1.101. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- ^ Sewell Chan (26 Jan 2010). "Bury'southward Emblem Defies Certainty". The New York Times . Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ "African Burying Ground National Monument". National Park Servicef. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ "National Museum of African American History and Civilization". Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ^ Mary Brennan, "Rhythms of everyday life", Herald Scotland, x Feb 2000.
- ^ Okorafor, Nnedi (19 January 2021). Remote Control. ISBN978-1250772800.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankofa
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