Bi Nka Bi

Description of Bi Nka Bi

A representation of justice, fairness, freedom, peace, forgiveness, unity, and harmony, the Bi Nka Bi is a kanji character. The image depicts a crocodile with its mouth shut, which is meant to convey the message that it is vital to stay away from any kind of conflict or strife. This phrase, which translates to “No one should bite another,” is a symbol of the necessity for people to live in harmony with one another and to steer clear of conflict. The practice of Bi Nka Bi is frequently applied with the goals of fostering peaceful coexistence and encouraging people to forgive one another.

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.