This king's stool has a lion and a key to symbolize his power and authority.

This lesson is about how symbols are used in art, and how people understand the meanings of the symbols in their culture. For example, we know what an octagonal red sign by the road means.

The Ashanti (or Asante) people of Ghana, West Africa have a legend that says in 1701 King Osei Tutu and his priest Anokye commanded the sky to send a symbol that would unite the Ashanti tribes into one nation. A golden stool floated down from the sky, which the Ashanti believe holds the spirit of their nation. It is tipped on its side so no one ever sits in it, and it is never allowed to touch the ground. The real one is hidden away and a copy is brought out for special occasions.

Everyone has a stool, and when they are not sitting in them, they lean the stools against the wall. No one ever sits in another's stool. The symbols carved in the stools tell about the owner. Powerful people have the fanciest stools. People get new stools as they get older or when something special happens.

When the king dies, they say,'The stool has fallen," and if he was a very good king, his stool is blackened and placed on its side in a special temple for the great Ashanti kings. When ordinary people die, their stools are placed in their family's temple.

Adinkra symbols can be seen everywhere in Ashanti villages: on stools, pottery, paintings, and especially stamped on clothing. The symbols stand for proverbs which teach Ashanti children family values and other important lessons. Look at the symbols on this page. There are hundreds of other Adinkra symbols.

See if your family can decide the meaning of these Ashanti proverbs:

"You do not hit a man on the head when your fingers are still in his mouth."

"The halo of the moon circles every human being."

"Rats don't dance in the cat's doorway."

"It takes a village to raise a child."

"The moon moves slowly but it crosses the town."

"Two small antelopes can beat a big one."

"If you are in hiding, don't light a fire."

"One falsehood can spoil a thousand truths."

"No one tests the depth of the river with both feet."

"Don't insult the crocodile until you have crossed the water."

"Talking doesn't fill the basket in the farm."

"The good farmer says that no matter how big your farm is, you tend it all."

Note to parents: there's a store near U.C. near the corner of Clifton and Ludlow Avenue that sells clothing and crafts from Africa. It's like taking a field trip to go to the store, which is called Kilimanjaro. Also, Ten Thousand Villages in O'Bryonville has crafts from all over the world, including Africa.