An Adinkra sign of the Akan people of Ghana, read as abundance, plenty and togetherness. Adinkra signs began as proverb patterns printed on mourning cloth by Akan makers. This one sets having enough beside standing together.
Record, Folk and Modern are kept apart, and each one carries its source.
Akan makers printed Adinkra signs as proverb patterns on mourning cloth. The British Museum holds an Adinkra cloth from 1817, whose journey from Kumase is studied in British Art Studies. We have not yet found an early dated example of Bese Saka itself.
To verify: An early dated example of Bese Saka, and whether it is on the 1817 cloth; The drawing follows commonly printed forms; to check against an Akan maker’s chart
Bese Saka is read as abundance, plenty and togetherness: having enough, and standing together. Like the other Adinkra signs, it is a sign to read, the way one reads a proverb, rather than an object meant to change anything.
To verify: What the name means word by word, and what the sign shows, from an Akan source
Shops sell Bese Saka as a pendant. Wearing it does not change anyone’s money, and we never say it does. It belongs to a living Akan tradition: we credit Akan makers when we show it and keep its outline faithful.
