Ananse Ntentan

Description of Ananse Ntentan

The Ananse Ntentan, or Spider’s Web, is a symbol that represents wisdom, craftiness, inventiveness, and the complexities of life. It is also known as the Spider’s web. Ananse, the cunning spider who plays a pivotal role in African mythology, is responsible for spinning this intricate web. Ananse is a mythical creature that is also known by its African name, Anansi. It is famous for its cunning and trickster nature. The interconnectedness of life, as well as the capability to weave complex solutions through ingenuity and resourcefulness, are both represented by the image of a spider’s web. It serves as a reminder that one must be able to navigate the challenges in life with skill and cunning, and that success often requires cleverness and adaptability on the part of the individual.

Style Variations

Bold – Light – Outlined – Colorable
Each variation is included in the file package.

Adinkra main description

Adinkra Symbols

The Adinkra symbols come from West Africa, specifically a region that is modern-day Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The symbols belonged to the Asante (or Ashanti) peoples, who would print them on cloth, as well as pottery and metalwork. The Asante people resisted British colonial rule when it arrived in West Africa. It may be for this reason that much cultural tradition and symbolism survives to this day. The word ‘adinkra’ means ‘farewell’ or ‘goodbye’ in the Twi language, spoken by the Asante people. For this reason, Adinkra cloth was worn often on special occasions, particularly funerals. The Adinkra symbols are closely tied to the history, beliefs and traditions of the Asante people. Each symbol represents a small number of simple concepts, meaning that Adinkra cloth would traditionally be printed using bespoke patterns, telling a story about the wearer that could be read by those knowledgeable enough to understand the underlying symbolism. The Adinkra symbols, and their meanings, have survived to the present day. Cloth displaying Adinkra symbols is now mass-produced in bright colors, using modern techniques and is very popular both in Africa and the wider world. This is not to say that the traditional weaving and printing methods have died out. It is still possible to find Adinkra cloth that has been made by hand, printed using natural inks and traditional techniques.