Sankofa: Meaning, Symbolism, and the Wisdom of Looking Back
How to pronounce Sankofa
The meaning and philosophical significance of Sankofa
Sankofa (phonetic /ˈsɑn.kɔ.fə/, pronounced SAN-kaw-fah) is a profound Adinkra symbol originating from the Akan people of Ghana. Its name comes from the Twi expression, “San kɔfa!” whose literal meaning is “Go back and get it!” a command to pay due regard to the lessons and practices of the past and to draw on them to inform the present and the future.
The Akan proverb associated with Sankofa is, “Se wo were firi na wosan kofa a, yenkyiri.” To wit, it is not taboo to go back and get something after you have forgotten it. More literally, it means if you forget and you go back to get it, there is nothing wrong with it.
Sankofa embodies humility, reflection, and respect for ancestry, teaching us that progress comes through understanding and honoring history.
Two visual forms of Sankofa: the mythical Sankofa bird and the Sankofa heart
Sankofa is commonly represented in two visual forms:
1. The Sankofa bird
A mythical bird depicted looking backward while holding an egg in its beak, symbolizing the act of reaching back to reclaim something valuable—knowledge, heritage, or lessons. The bird’s posture illustrates the balance between looking back and moving forward.
2. The Sankofa heart
An abstract stylized heart shape with intricate symmetrical spirals represents the need to continuously return to the past to draw lessons to inform the present and future.
Both forms convey a message of the importance of remembering where we come from–not only physically, but also spiritually, not destroying the cultural and philosophical landmarks or practices established by our ancestors.
Sankofa in Akan culture and oral traditions
The Akan people, like many African societies, have a rich oral tradition. History, laws, values, and wisdom were passed down verbally, making memory and remembrance essential. Sankofa teaches that to honor this tradition, one must consciously recover forgotten knowledge, respect elders, and preserve cultural identity.
For the Akan, forgetting the past is not just ignorance-it is a loss that weakens the community’s foundation. Sankofa warns against arrogance and pride that dismiss the importance of ancestral teachings.
Sankofa and the African diaspora
Among African Americans and other Africans in the diaspora, Sankofa has emerged as a symbol of cultural reclamation and identity affirmation. It holds deep spiritual significance in communities seeking to reconnect with roots disrupted by displacement and colonization. The symbol appears in art, tattoos, jewelry, literature, and fashion—serving as a visual reminder of resilience and the necessity of learning from history to empower the future.
Sankofa in contemporary culture
President Mahama’s iconic 2025 inauguration dress
President Mahama’s inauguration day dress, featuring Adinkra symbols (from the top and going clockwise: Nyame Dua, Gye Nyame, Dwennimmen, and Sankofa) on the chest and Kente (Mmere Pa Da W’anim) in the hat, on the edges of the sleeve, and on the edges of the agbada.
Image © Ghana’s UN Mission’s Instagram Page
The iconic white agbada Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama wore to his inauguration on January 7, 2025 spoke volumes using color, Adinkra and Kente symbolism that drew on centuries of tradition to capture his mood as well as that of the electorate. The dress, which he personally designed with his designer, Matthew Agambire of Bondaana, featured four Adinkra symbols–from the top and going clockwise, Nyame Dua, Gye Nyame, Dwennimmen, and Sankofa–and an iconic Kente fabric–Mmere Pa Da W’anim–with the following meanings:
- Nyame Dua: Literally, God’s tree–a sacred stump that was usually found in Akan houses for the performace of rituals; a symbol of God’s presence and protection
- Gye Nyame: Except God; a symbol for the supremacy of God
- Dwennimmen: Ram’s hors; a symbol for strength and humility
- Sankofa: Go back and get it!; a symbol for learning from the past
The name of the Kente cloth used in the dress is Mmere Pa Da W’anim, meaning “There are good days ahead of you,” an apt proclamation with which to kickstart a presidential term.
Incidentally, the state sword Mahama is wielding in the photo is filled with symbols, two of which are Adinkra. They are Fawohodie–literally, freedom, a symbol of freedom and independece–and Bi Nka Bi, literally, let no one bite the other, a symbol of unity and living together in harmony.
Dapper Dan’s 2025 Met Gala suit
Dapper Dan’s zoot suit at the 2025 Met Gala featuring the Sankofa bird.
Image © Getty via Vanity Fair
Another striking modern celebration of Sankofa is found in Harlem-based designer Dapper Dan’s 2025 Met Gala ensemble. Known for pioneering African American style through innovative fashion, Dapper Dan created a black-and-white sequined zoot suit prominently featuring the Sankofa bird embroidered on the back as well as subtly infusing the abstract Sankofa heart in the rest of the suit and his hat.
This outfit was not only a fashion statement but a cultural proclamation. By integrating Sankofa imagery, Dapper Dan emphasized the suit’s ties to Black heritage, Harlem’s sartorial history, and the power of looking backward to move forward. His outfit showcased Sankofa, a traditional African symbol, as an international emblem of ancestral pride and modern Black excellence.
Why Sankofa matters today
In a fast-paced world obsessed with the future, Sankofa reminds us that progress requires reflection. Whether in personal growth, social reform, or cultural revival, the act of “going back to get it” ensures that wisdom is preserved, lessons are learned, and traditions are respected.
Sankofa teaches humility—acknowledging that the past holds essential answers—and encourages individuals and communities to reclaim their histories to build stronger futures.
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Akan aphorisms relating to the meaning of Sankofa
1. Se wo were firi na wosan kofa a, yenkyiri
Twi spelling: Sɛ wo werɛ firi na wosan kɔfa a, yɛnkyiri
Literally: If you forget and you go back for it, there is nothing wrong with it
2. Se kuntun huan a, eko n’akyi
Twi spelling: Sɛ kuntun huan a, ɛkɔ n’akyi
Literally: When the twitch-up snare springs back, it returns (to its original position)
The twitch-up snare or spring snare is a trap for small animals that is constructed by tying a noose to a sapling or spring pole that is bent to create tension that quickly lifts the trapped animal off the ground. The bent sapling or spring pole in the trap is what is specifically referred to as kuntun in Twi and its snapping or springing back is the verb huan.
Twitch up snare or spring snare formed by bending a sapling.
Image source: Off Grid Web/US Army Survival Manual
While the trap has not been triggered or released, the sapling or spring pole remains bent away from its original position, under tension. When it is triggered, however, it flings back towards its original position.
This proverb is used to advice poeple to cherish their origins or native homes and not to despise them.
It is often used to advice people who travel away from their home towns or countries to at least ocassionally return as that is where they truly belong. It is a warning that regardless of how much one may enjoy their non-native place of residence, or how little regard one may have for their native land, they will eventually be brought there in case of any eventuality like sickness or death.
3. Tete asoeee, wonsoee ho bio
Literally: The ancient resting places, we don’t continue to rest there
The idea here contrasts with the one in Se wo were firi na wosan kofa a, yenkyiri, striking a balance between giving due reverence to the past while not hesitating to discard its practices that have outlived their use and should be done away with.
4. Tete wo bi ka, tete wo bi kyere
Literally: The past has something to say; the past has something to teach
5. Ekyem tete a eka ne mmeremu
Literally: When a shield wears out (or, is torn apart), its framework remains
References
- The first Sankofa image was obtained from the website of the Carter G. Woodson Center.
- The second Sankofa image was obtained from CleanPNG.
- Description of a twitch up snare from Off Grid Web
- Video demonstration of a twitch up snare
- The photo of Mahama’s dress was obtained from Ghana’s UN mission’s Instagram page.
