Akan architecture-gctid39069

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

AKAN     ARCHITECTURE AKAN CULTURAL SYMBOLS PROJECT
© G. F. Kojo Arthur and Robert  Rowe -       1998-2001    A wall  of an old house     showing in relief form some     of the Akan symbols                  Akan  architecture is not only     elaborate in terms of function and building technology. It also  presents, as a reflection     of the people and their spirit of independence, a variety of forms  and design principles     that encode expressive messages which continue to astonish foreign  observers. Various     symbols are used as base relief or plinths, banisters, and walls in  Akan architecture.      The fihankra (compound house)     style of building consists of a central quadrangle which is enclosed  on all four sides     with rooms.      The multi-room rectangular building with an open courtyard     found in Akan houses, as captured by the fihankra  symbol, marks     the Akan concept of private and public space. The Akan fihankra     building used as a home demarcates between the fie  (inside,     private) and abonten (outside,  public).         Contemporary building at Ejisu Besease depicting in relief form some  of the      traditional symbols Fihankra -  Compound House         The fihankra symbolizes protection, security and  spirituality. In     front of the house is placed a stump called the Nyame      dua - God's altar which represent's God's presence  and protection. When     one enters the house, the open courtyard (adiwo  in Twi; Fantse     call it paado) represents the public space  within the house.     This open courtyard has multiple uses. It is usually surrounded by a  verandah where guests     may be received. A bigger group of guests will usually be received  in the dampan.     The dampan (literally, empty room) is  semi-private and has     multiple uses: from receiving guests, and holding court to laying  the dead in state during     funerals. Then, there are the private rooms: living room, bed rooms,  bathrooms, etc. There     is also the kitchen, which very often extends into the open  courtyard. In a big Akan house,     there is the women's quarters (mmaa mu)  which will have its own     open courtyard and a number of private rooms. The kitchen and the  bathrooms will usually     be in these quarters. In the Asantehene's Palace the women's  quarters is called Hia     or Hyia.      The concept of fihankra     reinforces the idea of close family ties and unity.     The open courtyard of an Akan compound house         The Akan house is not only well ventilated, it is resilient and can     withstand the hazards of storms, rainfall and the tropical hot  weather. This     is encoded in the symbol mframadan - well ventilated  or breezy     house shown below.     Mframadan - Well ventilated House     Nyame Dua -  God's Altar Adinkra cloth symbol called Nyame dua       Tree  stump called Nyame     dua Nyame dua (God's altar) is  a tree stump that may     be found in front of houses or in the open courtyard of the fihankra     (compound house). The symbol signifies God's presence and God's  protection.     The tree stump     may hold a pot to catch direct rain water considered as holy water  for religious     ceremonies.     A hotel entrance with adinkra  symbols                   The incorporation of     symbols in Akan architecture was traditionally limited to public  buildings such as     the king's palace (ahemfie) and shrine  building (abosom     dan), and, in some cases, the homes of high ranking  community leaders. In     contemporary times the symbols are incorporated in both private and  public buildings in     order to emphasize Akan aesthetics as well as the social  significance of the buildings.     Obaa ne oman -  Woman is the Nation This symbol depicts the  Akan belief that when     a boy is born, an individual is born; but when a girl is born, a  nation is born.     A contemporary house that  incorporates the     Gye Name (Except God) symbol.               Different     symbols are used as base relief or plinths and walls. They may be  used to give a     honeycomb effect or serve as screen walls providing openings for  ventilation while at the     same time serving as protection against visual intrusion.     A Catholic Church building at Tema Community 3 showing the biri  bi wo      soro symbol     Some of Akan symbols that are on the  outside wall of the     National Cultural Center,     Kumasi             In recent years, architects have utilized  some of the symbols to resolve design     problems associated with fenestration, balustrading, fencing and  finishings in both     private and public buildings. For example, the Children's Library  Complex in Accra     incorporates the symbol called mmabunu benyini  (the young shall     grow). The medical students hostel at the University of Science and  Technology has a     honeycomb wall that incorporates the yen yiedie  (our well being)     symbol. The Catholic Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra, the Emmanuel  Methodist Church at     Labadi, Accra, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at Community One,  Tema, and the walls at     the front gate, as well as the columns of the Nkonnuafieso Temple of  the Kumasi National     Cultural Center are other examples of public buildings that have  incorporated several of     the Akan symbols. A wall incorporating  the stool (adwa)     symbol
OSIADAN NYAME -  GOD THE BUILDER		OSIADAN NYAME -  GOD THE BUILDER
YEN YIEDEE     - OUR WELL BEING		YEN     YIEDEE - OUR WELL BEING
ANANTUO -     CALF		ANANTUO     - CALF From the proverb: Se     anantuo kosene sere a, na yadee wo mu.      Literal translation: When the     calf is bigger than the thigh, then there is a problem.
FIHANKRA - COMPOUND HOUSE		FIHANKRA     - COMPOUND HOUSE Fihankra symbol depicts the Akan  family house which is     rectangular in shape and has a central courtyard. It is a symbol of  protection, security     and spirituality. The open courtyard within the house serves as the  center of activities     in the household.      The Akan home is shared by all  members of the extended     family. Therefore, the concept of fihankra  reinforces the idea     of close family ties and unity.
		The Nkonnuafieso      Temple at the National Cultural Center, Kumasi         The columns and walls of this  building incorporate several     symbols including biribi  wo soro (there is something in the     heavens)
FAN MILK BLOCK		An ice cream company, Fan Milk  Ice Cream Company in Ghana         has a company logo which is an architectural symbol. On the left  at the top is a set of         blocks with the fan milk logo and at the bottom is an ice cream  vendor peddling his         bicycle  around in the market place selling Fan Milk Ice Cream  products.
A       building column incorporating the biribi       wo soro (there is something in the heavens) symbol.		Base of an old house          Wall decorations of an old house     at Ejisu-Besease, near Kumasi
Wall decoration of an old house at Abetifi, near Nkawkaw.
OBAA NE  OMAN - WOMAN IS THE     NATION		OBAA NE  OMAN - WOMAN IS THE     NATION         From the maxim: Obaa ne  oman.     Literal translation: Woman is     the nation.      When a boy is born, an individual is  born; but when a girl     is born, a nation is born.
A collage of adinkra symbols on a ceiling at  the International Conference             Center in Accra. Walls in some of the meeting rooms at this  Center have paneling that             incorporates of these symbols. New Condos in New York Inspired Kmtyw symbols and           designs.          Read  more ....

[Akua Ma'at]

this is really interesting. we actually use some of these symbols in Antigua/ Caribbean without realizing the connection. Meda ase for sharing.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

i've also seen these in Brasil in gates and metalwork

[Akua Ma'at]

that's usually where we use them also. the sankOfa symbol that looks heart-like is the most popular but anantuo and biribi wo soro are here too.