Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra Symbols
The Adinkra Symbols of the Akan of Ghana are traditional symbols that are ideographical illustrations of sayings, faith, philosophies, thoughts, and values. The Adinkra symbols aid them in socially relating with members of the community and religiously with Nyame (God). The low level of literacy in...
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Noyam Journals
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology |
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| Online Access: | https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MOTBIT2025721.pdf |
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| author | Theophilus Effah-Manu Isaac Boaheng Nathan Iddrisu Samwini |
| author_facet | Theophilus Effah-Manu Isaac Boaheng Nathan Iddrisu Samwini |
| author_sort | Theophilus Effah-Manu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Adinkra Symbols of the Akan of Ghana are traditional symbols that are ideographical illustrations of sayings, faith, philosophies, thoughts, and values. The Adinkra symbols aid them in socially relating with members of the community and religiously with Nyame (God). The low level of literacy in the continent among others makes the adoption and use of symbols for theological discourse very appropriate. Symbolic theology involves the use of symbols to communicate biblical truths. This study collected data through literature research using secondary sources such as books, articles, and dissertations. The study also administered a structured questionnaire to 110 Christians and 20 Clergy belonging to different denominations. The Theological reflections on the selected symbols showed a convincing correlation between the symbols and the biblical truths. The results from the fieldwork also confirmed the literature: 35% of Christians indicated that the selected symbols were good for Christian use while another 15% said it was good for African Christians. 75% of the clergy also indicated that the symbols were good for Christian use, 47% also said it was very useful and another 47% indicated it was most useful for their line of duty as clergy. The paper seeks to make a case for African Symbolic Theology as a branch of ethno-theology through ethno-hermeneutics. This is on the basis that symbols occupy a huge space in the epistemology and religious space of the people. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0333badd7ef9433b9a6bc5e02b770d6f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2676-2838 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Noyam Journals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology |
| spelling | doaj-art-0333badd7ef9433b9a6bc5e02b770d6f2025-08-20T02:52:46ZengNoyam JournalsJournal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology2676-28382025-02-01723254https://doi.org/10.38159/motbit.2025721Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra SymbolsTheophilus Effah-Manu0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4654-2678Isaac Boaheng1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8624-3035Nathan Iddrisu Samwini2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3705-1321 Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.Christian Service University, Ghana; Research Fellow University of the Free State, South AfricaDepartment of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, GhanaThe Adinkra Symbols of the Akan of Ghana are traditional symbols that are ideographical illustrations of sayings, faith, philosophies, thoughts, and values. The Adinkra symbols aid them in socially relating with members of the community and religiously with Nyame (God). The low level of literacy in the continent among others makes the adoption and use of symbols for theological discourse very appropriate. Symbolic theology involves the use of symbols to communicate biblical truths. This study collected data through literature research using secondary sources such as books, articles, and dissertations. The study also administered a structured questionnaire to 110 Christians and 20 Clergy belonging to different denominations. The Theological reflections on the selected symbols showed a convincing correlation between the symbols and the biblical truths. The results from the fieldwork also confirmed the literature: 35% of Christians indicated that the selected symbols were good for Christian use while another 15% said it was good for African Christians. 75% of the clergy also indicated that the symbols were good for Christian use, 47% also said it was very useful and another 47% indicated it was most useful for their line of duty as clergy. The paper seeks to make a case for African Symbolic Theology as a branch of ethno-theology through ethno-hermeneutics. This is on the basis that symbols occupy a huge space in the epistemology and religious space of the people.https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MOTBIT2025721.pdfadinkragye nyamenyame nnwu na mawutheologysymbols |
| spellingShingle | Theophilus Effah-Manu Isaac Boaheng Nathan Iddrisu Samwini Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra Symbols Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology adinkra gye nyame nyame nnwu na mawu theology symbols |
| title | Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra Symbols |
| title_full | Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra Symbols |
| title_fullStr | Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra Symbols |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra Symbols |
| title_short | Theological Reflections on Selected Adinkra Symbols |
| title_sort | theological reflections on selected adinkra symbols |
| topic | adinkra gye nyame nyame nnwu na mawu theology symbols |
| url | https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MOTBIT2025721.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT theophiluseffahmanu theologicalreflectionsonselectedadinkrasymbols AT isaacboaheng theologicalreflectionsonselectedadinkrasymbols AT nathaniddrisusamwini theologicalreflectionsonselectedadinkrasymbols |