Diffusion of symbolic culture in the modern Ghanaian clothing and textile industry

This thesis explores Adinkra symbols as designs for the Ghanaian clothing and textile industry for easy communication, sustainability and development of knowledge about Ghanaian culture. The Ghanaian Adinkra symbols have figurative meanings and constitute a set with names and meanings that relate to aspects of social life, for example, wisdom, friendship and strength. These educational symbols are mostly used by textile artisans for the design of traditional cloths worn on special occasions such as funerals and durbars (cultural festivals). Artisans have been arbitrary in the selection of Adinkra symbols as designs for hand textile printing because they combine numerous symbols in a single design concept. The intended message from the use of numerous Adinkra symbols as designs on one cloth is lost in the process and does not enhance the meaning and understanding of a particular cloth design. <br><br>