Adinkra Background

Adinkra are symbols created by the Ashanti people of Ghana. Traditionally, Adinkra symbols were stamped onto cloth, but today they can be found throughout Ghana -- on water bottle labels, chairs, and architecture -- and they even appear elsewhere in the world where African people have traveled. Each symbol represents a certain belief or proverb, but their shapes also have deep mathematical significance, especially in the ways that they use logarithmic curves to represent organic growth. On this site you will learn about the origins of these symbols, what they mean, and how to identify the mathematics of Adinkra. You will then learn a simple programming language that allows you to simulate traditional Adinkra shapes, and even create your own original designs!