Nea Oretwa Sa

The meaning and philosophical significance of Nea Oretwa Sa

“Nea oretwa sa” is an Akan expression that translates to “He who is paving a path.” It is a symbol for leadership problems, trailblazing, and the need for a leader to heed advice.

The name of the symbol is derived from the Akan proverb, “Nea oretwa sa nnim se n’akyi akyea,” meaning, “The one who is paving a path does not know that it is curved or crooked behind him.” The imagery is that of someone clearing a bush to make a path. The maneuvers through the non-uniform terrain invariably lead to a path that is not straight, a fact that is obvious to onlookers though the paver himself may be oblivious to it as he busily undertakes his task.

References

The meaning of the symbol was taken from Cloth as Metaphor by G. F. Kojo Arthur.

Adinkra Chart: Explore West African Symbols

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