Akofena - The Protector (2019)

"The thunder they send on me,

I can always throw it back.

But I’d rather transform it."

Akofena, the Sword of War, is the Adinkra symbol of valor, courage and heroism. This woman here was named after it because she was born to be a protector. She is a powerful, wise, selfless, fearless soul who never backs down.

The people who can rely on her are represented behind her through the totem engraved with Boa Me Na Me Mmoa Wo, the symbol of interdependance and cooperation, meaning ‘’Help me and let me help you’’. This is a symbol that I have already used in other paintings (see ‘’Eban – Safe in Love’’ and ‘’Equity and Sharing’’). The totem here stands for Akofena’s tribe.

A tribe can be an ethnic group, a family, a group of close friends, a team… It can be a few people or a real crowd.

Akofena is the protector of her tribe. It’s good to have one like her, or to be like her…

Akofena, the Sword of War, is the Adinkra symbol of valor, courage and heroism. This woman here was named after it because she was born to be a protector. She is a powerful, wise, selfless, fearless soul who never backs down.

The people who can rely on her are represented behind her through the totem engraved with Boa Me Na Me Mmoa Wo, the symbol of interdependance and cooperation, meaning ‘’Help me and let me help you’’. This is a symbol that I have already used in other paintings (see ‘’Eban – Safe in Love’’ and ‘’Equity and Sharing’’). The totem here stands for Akofena’s tribe.

A tribe can be an ethnic group, a family, a group of close friends, a team… It can be a few people or a real crowd.

Akofena is the protector of her tribe. It’s good to have one like her, or to be like her…

‘’ The thunder they send on me,

I can always throw it back.

But I’d rather transform it.’’

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