1. Gye Nyame (Adinkra, Ghana)

Meaning: "Except for God"

One of the most recognized Adinkra symbols from the Akan people of Ghana, Gye Nyame represents the omnipotence of God. Its swirling, almost abstract design is found on cloth, jewelry, buildings, and even logos across West Africa.

This symbol reflects the Akan philosophy that divine power underpins life.

2. Nsibidi (Nigeria, Cross River Region)

Nsibidi Diagram Examples – Image Credit: AfricaRebirth.com

Meaning: A sacred script for communication

Unlike Adinkra, Nsibidi is not a single symbol, but a system of ideographic writing created by the Ejagham people in southeastern Nigeria. Some symbols represented love, warfare, or governance, while others carried spiritual or esoteric meanings used by secret societies.

Nsibidi is one of Africa's earliest written traditions, showing that literacy and symbolic language were thriving long before colonial contact.

3. Sankofa (Adinkra, Ghana)

Image Credit: bohten.com

Meaning: "Return and fetch it"

The Sankofa bird, often depicted with its head turned backward carrying an egg, teaches the value of going back to retrieve wisdom from the past to build the future.

4. Ouroboros in Dogon Cosmology (Mali)

image credit: pinterest

Meaning: Eternal cycle of life

The Dogon people of Mali use serpentine symbolism to represent the universe's cyclical nature. This African interpretation of the Ouroboros (snake eating its tail) embodies renewal, infinity, and cosmic balance.

5. Duafe (Adinkra, Ghana)

image credit: adinkra.org

Meaning: Wooden comb, symbol of femininity and nurturing

The Duafe symbol is shaped like a traditional wooden comb. It represents feminine beauty, hygiene, and qualities such as patience, care, and love.

It also elevates the concept of women as the backbone of family and community life.

6. Yoonir (Serer People, Senegal & Gambia)

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Meaning: The universe and destiny

The five-pointed star of Yoonir represents the Serer people's cosmology. It symbolizes the link between humanity and the divine, as well as the individual's place in the universe.

The Serer tribe reminds us that Africa had its own cosmological systems long before modern astronomy.

7. Adinkrahene (Adinkra, Ghana)

image credit: adinkrasymbols.org

Meaning: Chief of the Adinkra symbols, symbol of leadership

The concentric circles of Adinkrahene represent greatness, charisma, and authority. It is often worn by chiefs and leaders as an emblem of power.

8. The Knot of Eternity (Berber, North Africa)

Meaning: Timelessness and continuity

Among the Berber (Amazigh) people of North Africa, geometric knot designs symbolize eternity and the interconnectedness of life. You'll see them in jewelry, carpets, and tattoos.

9. Nsoromma (Adinkra, Ghana)

image credit: adinkrasymbols.org

Meaning: "Child of the heavens"

A star symbol representing guardianship, Nsoromma is a reminder of divine protection. It reflects the Akan belief that humans are children of the sky (the universe, God, and ancestors).

10. The Spiral of Life (Zulu, South Africa)

Meaning: Journey and transformation

Among the Zulu and other southern African cultures, spiral motifs reflect life's path, its twists, growth, and transformation.

African symbols are not "ancient relics." They are living philosophies. Designers incorporate Adinkra into clothing, tattoo artists reimagine Nsibidi in modern ink, and community leaders use Sankofa as a framework for cultural revival.

By learning and sharing them, we're not just appreciating design, we're reclaiming Africa's archive.