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Ese Ne Tekrema, meaning ‘the teeth and the tongue’, is an Adinkra symbol of interdependence, friendship, advancement, improvement, and growth. The symbol shows that the tongue and teeth play interdependent roles in the mouth, and while they may come into conflict now and then, they must also work together.
This symbol is popularly used in making charms and various other types of jewelry. Many people choose to gift Ese Ne Tekrema charm jewelry as a sign of friendship. It’s also printed on clothing and can sometimes be seen on pottery items.
FAQs
This is a West African symbol which means ‘the teeth and the tongue’.
This symbol represents interdependency and friendship.
What Are Adinkra Symbols?
Adinkra are a collection of West African symbols that are known for their symbolism, meaning and decorative features. They have decorative functions, but their primary use is to represent concepts related to traditional wisdom, aspects of life, or the environment.
Adinkra symbols are named after their original creator King Nana Kwadwo Agyemang Adinkra, from the Bono people of Gyaman, now Ghana. There are several types of Adinkra symbols with at least 121 known images, including additional symbols that have been adopted on top of the original ones.
Adinkra symbols are highly popular and used in contexts to represent African culture, such as artwork, decorative items, fashion, jewelry, and media.