AKOMA - "the heart"

AKOMA - "the heart"
100% silk twill scarf (90 x 90 cm) 
Color: coquelicot/cyber grape/candy apple red/bluetiful/bittersweet/raisin black

Designed by Yaw Tony
Ref. : 01-2316-FF481D
Limited edition of 5

DESIGN HISTORY
Name/Theme: Akoma/Patience
Literal Translation: ‘Have a heart or take a heart’ (Glover, 1969)
Meaning: ‘Nya’ means to have or to acquire. ‘Akoma’ refers to the heart. Akoma – take heart, that is be patient. A person is said to be patient if that person is able to stay calm and not react to any negative situations or the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. This symbol is also used for the production of adinkra cloth and other traditional prints.

Background: The place of the heart is the source and centre of emotional life, where the deepest and sincerest feelings are located, and where a person is most vulnerable to pain. The heart is believed to be responsible for a person’s emotions, for example, anger, hatred, love, joy, grief, etc. A person is said to have a heart in his stomach when that person is very tolerant. Patience is said to be the best medicine given to us by the creator and society demands that everyone must have the capacity for waiting: the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties.

Moral Value: The proverb teaches the importance of tolerance in the face of provocation. It also stresses the need for patience in the accomplishment of difficult tasks in life. One must be careful not to offend others by one’s presumptuousness. Patience, tact, and skills are needed in dealing with people, especially those in authority.

Extract from Cultural Symbolism in Asante Traditional Textiles by ABRAHAM EKOW ASMAH