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| Kuntankantan |
The symbol kuntankantan (egocentricism) serves to remind one not to be egocentric and boastful of the little knowledge one has as depicted by the following maxim:
Nea oye ne ho se menim menim, nnim hwee - He who knows all, knows nothing.
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| kyemfere |
The kyemfere (potsherd) symbol depicts this belief that experience and wisdom come with age by posing the question:
Kyemfere se odaa ho akye, na onipa a onwenee no nso nye den? If the
potsherd claims it is old, what about the potter who molded it?
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| Nea onnim |
The symbol nea onnim sua a, ohu (he who does not know can become knowledgeable from learning) incorporates this view of learning.
Akan regard the elderly as wise and believe that experience comes with age.
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| Nyansa bunu mu ne mate masie |
The symbol reflects the Akan's love of and quest for knowledge, and also respect for the wise person.
It originates from the Akan belief that a people without knowledge of their history is like a tree without roots.
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| SANKOFA |
The word SANKOFA is derived from the words SAN (return), KO (go), FA (look, seek and take).
This symbolizes the Akan's quest for knowledge with the implication that the quest is based on critical examination, and intelligent and patient investigation.
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| Kookoo dua |
| Kookoo dua (cocoa tree), bese saka (bunch of cola nuts), and abe dua (palm tree) are examples of symbols that record about crops that have played important roles in the economy of the society at different times over the years. Bese (cola nut) was very important in the trans-Saharan trade long before Europeans had direct contact with the Akan. |
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| ASASE YE DU |
| This symbol reflects the importance of land to the Akan. Even though land is communally owned among the Akan, land ownership by group or individuals is an important source of economic and political power.
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