Sankofa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sankofa can mean either the word in the Akan language of Ghana that translates in English to "go back and take" (Sanko- go back, fa- take) or the Asante Adinkra symbol.
The Asante of Ghana use an Adinkra symbol to represent this same idea and one version of it is similar to the eastern symbol of a heart, and another version is that of a bird with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back. It symbolizes one taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge.
Adinkra symbols are used by the Asante to express proverbs and other philosophical ideas. These ideas are numerous and are used throughout the world because of their aesthetic and spiritual beauty. Sankofa has since been adopted by other cultural groups in the area and around the world.
[edit] Popular Usage
i The film by Ethiopian-American filmmaker Haile Gerima Sankofa (1993) popularized the term, since then more recent films such as 500 Years Later have further popularized the symbol as part of the core philosophy of the film.
In the Disney-referencing video game Kingdom Hearts 2, the Nobodies and Organization XIII are known for their sharply stylized and inverted sankofa. This denotes a negative reversing of the philosophy behind the symbol, further solidifying the malicious efforts of the organization.
Janet Jackson has a Sankofa symbol tattooed on her right wrist. It is the symbol of her 1997 album The Velvet Rope, but stylized and inverted, possibly meaning the opposite: instead of understanding the past to go on, we must go on to understand the past.
Hip-Hop artist Talib Kweli also references the term Sankofa on his album Reflection Eternal.
British filmmaker Isaac Julien cofounded the Sankofa Film and Video Collective, a collective of black British filmmakers.
In the Toni Morrison novel Song of Solomon the reoccurring motif of flight as a way to escape is indicative of sankofa. The protagonist Milkman returns and recovers his past, and by doing so he is able to fly.
Damali Richards, lead character of The Vampre Huntress Legend Series written by LA Banks, has a Sankofa tattoo.
Sankofa is also the name of the step dance team at Williams College
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