Symbolic Representation And Socio-Cultural Significance Of Selected Akan Proverbs In Ghana

Abstract

Although Akan proverbs of the Twi-speaking people of Ghana are creatively crafted speeches with beautiful and rich values that make lengthy statements short; and spoken in a cultured way for communication of traditional values, the influx of foreign languages in Ghana has contributed to the rapid decline in the standards of this cherished Akan indigenous linguistics. These proverbs embody deep symbolic and socio-cultural values of the Akan people of the Ghanaian society. This paper showcases 20 visual symbols, created from the selected proverbs by the researchers, of selected Akan proverbs with the aim of making them regain their past glory and to promote visual literacy. In highlighting the significance of these selected proverbs, the study employed art-based technique of a qualitative research approach to represent them graphically. Based upon the findings of the socio-cultural values embedded in these proverbs, this paper recommends that more symbols should be created using the numerous proverbs and wise sayings that are in existence in our local languages to salvage the declining image of those proverbs as an important component of African art for communication.

Keywords: Adinkra, Akan proverbs, Asante-Twi, philosophical, socio-cultural, symbolic, Twi, visual literacy