Sankofa

Uncommon card · No. 198611

Sankofa (pronounced SAHN-koh-fah) is a word in the Akan language of Ghana meaning "to retrieve" (literally "go back and get"; san - to return; ko - to go; fa - to fetch, to seek and take) This Adinkra symbol is represented either with a stylized heart shape or by a bird with its head turned backwards while its feet face forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth. Sankofa is often associated with the proverb, "Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates as: "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." The sankofa bird appears frequently in traditional Akan art, and has also been adopted as an important symbol in an African-American and African Diaspora context to represent the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future. It is one of the most widely dispersed adinkra symbols, appearing in modern jewelry, tattoos, and T-shirts.

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