Afrocentric Sigils: Adinkra
Sigils are a very popular technique across Tumblr from chaos magick, and innovative sigil designers are always coming up with new ways to create them. While sigils are easy to learn how to use and can be extremely effective, it’s another Western magical method. It left me wondering if there’s an Afrocentric alternative for us black witches, rootworkers, and conjurers!
Magical Symbols in Vodou and Hoodoo
It would be remiss not to mention some of the symbol systems already existing in Africana magical traditions. In the African traditional religion of Vodou, which has its own magical practices, the spirits/deities called lwa represent different powers, personalities, and energies that can be represented visually through veves. Veves are sometimes used by magical practitioners to call upon lwa to help with spells or rituals. The issue with using veves as a sigil alternative is that they belong to the religion of Vodou, require a sufficient knowledge of the lwa, and should not really be used without the proper training and/or necessary initiation into Vodou from a qualified Vodou practitioner.
So what about hoodoo? Many rootworkers influenced by Jewish Kabbalah and Christian ceremonial magical traditions drew inspiration from texts like the Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon. So using Solomonic pentacles and complex magical symbols of that nature are also well within the general hoodoo repertoire. The thing is, sure that’s a genuine part of African-American folk magic, but it’s still imported from European traditions and has no connection to our ancestors outside of a colonial context.
Introducing… Adinkra Symbols!
So in the running for an Afrocentric sigil alternative that many people of African-descent can easily use and access, that leaves veves out for being part of an initiatory-only religion that requires in-person training and leaves Solomonic designs out for being Eurocentric. Hoping to fill this gap somehow, I thought about back when my fiancé got his first tattoo, which I proudly drew the design for! It was of the West African symbol called the Wawa Aba. You may have seen it on Wakandan Princess Shuri’s t-shirt, which is what got me thinking…
Look at this genius princess wearing the Wawa Aba with grace!
I researched the Wawa Aba further and discovered it’s one of dozens of Adinkra symbols, which are a part of the Ashanti and Baoules cultures of West Africa. They are used as cultural symbols and sometimes for ritual purposes too. You can find Adinkra symbols used extensively in fabric, pottery, architectural, t-shirt, and jewelry designs. Historically, special Adinkra clothes were only worn by royalty or spiritual leaders on special occasions, but nowadays Adinkra designs are mass-produced due to tourism.
Each Adinkra symbol has a rich set of meanings and associations, and many are linked to proverbs or wise sayings. They are a great alternative for Afrocentric folks who don’t want to rely solely on Western sigil techniques because these symbols have traditionally been used for magical purposes within their original cultural contexts but are safe to incorporate into your magical practice without culturally appropriating if you’re a person of African descent. (This is what I’ve gathered from my own research on Adinkra symbols, but of course, if I’m mistaken about anything, please correct me!)
Using Adinkra Symbols in Your Craft
So here’s just a few of the many Adinkra symbols you can incorporate into your magical practice as a black witch, rootworker, or any other kind of Afrocentric magic user! Please don’t use these if you aren’t a person of African descent.
Possible Ways to Use Adinkra Symbols:
- Write them on petition papers or name papers
- Carve them into the sides or on the bottom of a spell candle
- Arrange roots and herbs into the shape of a symbol
- Draw them on the lid of a spell jar
- Write them on slips of paper stuffed into a mojo bag
- Stir the surface of the water in the shape of the symbol for a spiritual bath
These are just some suggestions for how to use Adinkra symbols, but feel free to reblog with ideas of your own! I’ve included several below to help get started. All images below came from Adinkra.org, where you can find more of the symbols and their meanings.
Wawa Aba | Seed of the Wawa Tree
HARDINESS, TOUGHNESS, PERSEVERANCE
Mate Masie | “What I hear, I keep”
WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, PRUDENCE
Okodee Mmowere | Talons of the Eagle
Beauty, Glamour, Attractiveness
MMUSUYIDEE | Bad Luck Remover
Luck, Good Fortune, Prosperity
ODO NNYEW FIE KWAN | Power of Love
Love, Romance, Relationships
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