Adinkra Cloth

Writing and Art

Ghana is located in Western Africa,

along the coastline.

Adinkra cloth, made in Ghana, is

decorated with stamped designs

The word, “Adinkra”, means

“good-bye” and the cloth was originally worn when guests

were departing or at funerals

Traditionally, the designs were

stamped in glossy black ink onto matte

black or brown cloth.

Today, they are also stamped onto white or brightly colored

cloth

This is John Kofi Nsiah from Ghana.

John Kofi Nsiah is a weaver, adinkra

stamp carver and an adinkra cloth printer

Stamps are carved from calabashes - or gourds - which are also used to carry liquids, grains and

shea butter

Uncarved pieces of gourd and

carved stamps

A collection of carved stamps ready for printing.

Adinkra cloth designer using

one of the stamps carved by

John Kofi Nsiah.

Men wearing stamped (ntiamu) adinkra cloths.

Contemporary artists use symbols such as Adinkra, in their own artworks

Student Work