Fofo

Description of Fofo

The yellow flowering plant known as bidens pilosa, which is known as Fofo, is a symbol that serves as a warning against jealousy and possessiveness. The Akan people have a strong cultural conviction that jealousy is a malevolent emotion that can bring about unfavorable outcomes in one’s life. When the petals of the fofo flower fall off, what’s left behind are dark seeds that look like spikes. This change is interpreted as a caution against harboring feelings of envy, serving as a reminder to individuals that they should concentrate on their own journey and avoid making comparisons to the journeys of others. The importance of being content with oneself and avoiding feelings of envy and jealousy toward others is emphasized by the Fofo symbol.

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.