Meaning of Sankofa

Sankofa is visually expressed as a bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg symbolizing the future in or near its mouth.

Sankofa is a word in the Twi (pronounced Tree) language of the Akan people of West Africa that translates to GO BACK AND GET IT san - to return ko - to go fa - to fetch to seek and take.

Used as a symbol of knowledge the world over, the concept of sankofa is derived from the Akan people of West Africa. The term sankofa comes from the words "san" (return), "ko" (go), and "fa" (look, seek, and take). The past illuminates the present, Sankofa Asante Adinkra symbol means know your history is to know yourself; the search for knowledge is a lifelong process.

The Akan believe that the past illuminates the present and that the search for knowledge is a lifelong process. The Sankofa symbol illustrates the quest for knowledge and the importance of learning from the past. Sankofa teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward.  

Visually and symbolically Sankofa is expressed as a bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg symbolizing the future in or near its mouth. Sankofa means return and get it, symbolizing the importance of learning from the past. Sankofa also stands for you can always correct your mistakes or with wisdom use past experiences to build a promising future. Know your history is to know yourself.

Did you know?

Sankofa has a second popular symbol which was the original symbol derived from the Akan people of West Africa.

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