Kete Pa - Sign Your Name (2017)

" You are not mine, you are me.

I am not yours, I am you.

God knows.The sun knows.

Odo knows. Even darkness

and every single grain of sand

already know

that we are one. "

Kete Pa (in the background) litterally means Good bed and is the symbol of good marriage, love and faithfulness. For the Akan people, « a woman who has made a good marriage is said to sleep on a good bed » (adinkra.org).

This symbol actually reminds me of a honeycomb. For this reason I chose this color and location in the background so that it can also represent separation from the rest of the world, the hideaway of a longlasting honeymoon for the newlyweds.

The second half of the title is Sign your Name. Therefore you can see the groom drawing a golden Adinkrahene symbol on the bride’s heart using his finger. Adinkrahene is the king symbol of Adinkra symbols. It means greatness, leadership, charisma and royalty. It is about the importance of playing a leadership role. The groom bears this symbol all over his wedding outfit as his identity.

 Now, this gesture towards his bride is not to be seen as an act of appropriation of this woman. It is an act of associating with her to accomplish his mission at the highest level because he knows that this woman is the ideal partner for him to succeed.

Also, be aware that this woman is not coming to this union as a person waiting to become somebody as if becoming a wife was her life purpose. She is already somebody and she is showing her personnality to every single person looking at her.

See her wearing Nyansapo, the symbol of wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience as a jewel on her forehead ! This is an educated, free and smart woman. She wears another part of her identity on her arm through Mpuannum, the symbol of priestly office, loyalty and adroitness. It represents five tufts of hair and is the hairstyle of the priestesses but also the hairstyle of joy. With this armband, she is making a statement that she is a committed, talented and joyful person before becoming a wife. In return, the groom expresses his love, faithfulness and belief in harmony to his bride by wearing the Osram Ne Nsoromma symbol of the Moon and the Star on his collar.

Now just in case you are wondering, I had the inspiration of this work on a sleepless night as I heard Terence Trent Darby’s Sign Your Name covered by French singer Imany on TV. I had not listened to that song in years, therefore hearing the « Sign your name accross my heart » verse made it the right night to stay awake and create…

'' You are not mine, you are me.

I am not yours, I am you.

God knows. The sun knows.

 Odo knows. Even darkness

and every single grain of sand

already know that we are one.''

               .....................................

Kete Pa (in the background) litterally means Good bed and is the symbol of good marriage, love and faithfulness. For the Akan people, « a woman who has made a good marriage is said to sleep on a good bed » (adinkra.org).

This symbol actually reminds me of a honeycomb. For this reason I chose this color and location in the background so that it can also represent separation from the rest of the world, the hideaway of a longlasting honeymoon for the newlyweds.

The second half of the title is Sign your Name. Therefore you can see the groom drawing a golden Adinkrahene symbol on the bride’s heart using his finger. Adinkrahene is the king symbol of Adinkra symbols. It means greatness, leadership, charisma and royalty. It is about the importance of playing a leadership role. The groom bears this symbol all over his wedding outfit as his identity.

 Now, this gesture towards his bride is not to be seen as an act of appropriation of this woman. It is an act of associating with her to accomplish his mission at the highest level because he knows that this woman is the ideal partner for him to succeed.

Also, be aware that this woman is not coming to this union as a person waiting to become somebody as if becoming a wife was her life purpose. She is already somebody and she is showing her personnality to every single person looking at her.

See her wearing Nyansapo, the symbol of wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience as a jewel on her forehead ! This is an educated, free and smart woman. She wears another part of her identity on her arm through Mpuannum, the symbol of priestly office, loyalty and adroitness. It represents five tufts of hair and is the hairstyle of the priestesses but also the hairstyle of joy. With this armband, she is making a statement that she is a committed, talented and joyful person before becoming a wife. In return, the groom expresses his love, faithfulness and belief in harmony to his bride by wearing the Osram Ne Nsoromma symbol of the Moon and the Star on his collar.

Now just in case you are wondering, I had the inspiration of this work on a sleepless night as I heard Terence Trent Darby’s Sign Your Name covered by French singer Imany on TV. I had not listened to that song in years, therefore hearing the « Sign your name accross my heart » verse made it the right night to stay awake and create…