Xavier Cortada, “Nkyinkyim,” Underglaze on ceramic tile, 6″ x 6″, 2020.
Nkyinkyim
Meaning: Literal meaning is twists and turns.
Symbolizes: Initiative, dynamism, versatility, prudence, balance, and vigilance. The twists and turns in life.
Origin: The word is from the Twi dialect in Ghana.
Spiritual meaning: The Akan proverb associated with this symbol is Ɔbra ne wo ara wo bɔ, which means “Life is what you make of it”. Despite all the twists and turns in life, one should make the best out of every situation and continue to dynamically survive. Encourages to have faith and optimism.
Meaning in today’s society: There is a need for each individual to experiment and learn various skills to help one succeed in various economic heats, a situation that marks the world we live in today (Adom 2016). Learning to overcome challenges.
Environmental meaning: It educates societal members to change their unwarranted attitudes that have destroyed the environment and its resources. It is an assurance to societies with bad environmental state that they can improve the condition for the better by engaging in environmentally friendly activities. They must also sensitize the public through environmental sustainability education (Adom 2018).
Adom, Dickson, Asante Appau, and Kquofi, Steve. 2016. “Adinkra: An Epitome of Asante Philosophy and History”. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences. Vol. 6, N0.14.
Adom, Dickson, Opuku, Moses, Newton, P. Jerry, and Yeboah, Akwasi. 2018. “Adinkra Cultural Symbols for Environmental Sustainability Education in Ghana”. World Environment, 8(2): 36-46