An Adinkra sign of the Akan people of Ghana. Its name means “except for God”, and it is read as a proverb: fear nothing, except God. Adinkra signs began as proverb patterns printed on mourning cloth by Akan makers.
Record, Folk and Modern are kept apart, and each one carries its source.
Adinkra signs began as proverb patterns printed on mourning cloth by Akan makers. The British Museum holds an Adinkra cloth from 1817, and British Art Studies follows its path from Kumase to London. We have not yet checked which signs it carries.
To verify: Whether Gye Nyame is printed on the 1817 cloth; The earliest dated example of Gye Nyame itself; The drawing follows commonly printed forms; to check against an Akan maker’s chart
Gye Nyame means “except for God”, and it is read as a whole proverb: fear nothing, except God. Like other Adinkra signs, it carries a saying to be read and remembered. It is a proverb sign, not a spell.
To verify: A word-by-word translation of the Akan name, from an Akan source
Gye Nyame is sold today as a pendant. It belongs to a living Akan tradition, so we credit Akan makers whenever we show it, keep its outline faithful, and make no promise about courage. The courage is yours.
