Black History Month: The Akan Tribe's Call to Preserve History and Why It Matters
- The S.S. Socialite
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
February 10, 2025 Earth
Black History Month is a month for reflecting on the great leaders and revolutionaries who had the courage to blaze a trail and become the catalyst for change, whether it be better treatment for Black people or minorities, leading the call for civil rights and equality, creating inventions that have helped the common man, or people who have become a mouthpiece for the vulnerable.
Black History Month was established in 1976 after a campaign led by scholar, Carter G. Woodson to celebrate historic contributions from Black people. He often noted that Black and African-American contributions were often overlooked, ignored, or even hidden by those who didn't want the truth to be learned.
He eventually managed to establish Negro History Week, with the help of those who answered his cry for change, and then finally, the movement culminated into Black History Month.
Black History has been a pivotal journey interweaving the experiences of those who came before, our ancestors, to become a powerful pillar that has had a hand in shaping not only our history but much of general history as we know it.
From birth, to growth into mighty and resourceful tribes that resided in the African Diaspora, to the creation of culture, medicine, storytelling, to intelligent design, to the unfortunate fall into slavery, to developing the courage to pursue enlightenment, to carving the path to freedom, the journey of African/Black society into the present has been a long and difficult one.
History is there to keep us grounded and to remind us of the consequences that certain paths and decisions can lead to. History is for us to reflect on, to guide us through difficult times, and to teach lessons that we can carry into our present lives. It is so important to keep old stories and experiences intact so that we can use them to shape the future we NEED to ensure success.
Unfortunately, due to the consequences of our culture being uprooted, it has been harder and harder to hold onto the cultural concepts that make us, us. The concepts we have MANAGED to keep, that is.
Slavery, oppression, racism, and greed have been the giant wrecking ball that has shattered our fragile but important history into pieces, with us constantly working to find them and fit them together in the puzzle we've managed to cobble together.
In my research, I stumbled across the Sankofa bird, a prominent Adinkra symbol of Ghanaian culture that originated from the Akan tribe.
In Ghanaian culture, the Sankofa bird symbolizes the need to keep the past in mind while still moving forward. The Akan people placed great emphasis on learning from the mistakes and wisdom of the past and using it to shape a better future.
The word Sankofa is basically a combination of three words:
Sa - To Return
Ko - Go
Fa - To Look, to Take
"Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri" is a corresponding African proverb that basically says that it's okay to look back and take what we need for the present. The bird is often seen with its head backward, carrying an egg in its mouth, which represents the lessons, gems of wisdom, and concepts of history. However, the bird also has its feet planted forward, meaning that it's firmly moving ahead to the future.
Many Africans and Black people alike have a strong desire to learn of their roots, where they came from, and who they are. Along the "Gold Coast", Ghana was a key point of the Slave Trade along with much of the West Coast of Africa, and most likely the Akan tribe tried their best to inculcate and keep this idea intact during that difficult time.
Black History has seen numerous attempts to erase, warp, and hide from those who do not wish for it to be taught, talked about, or discovered.
The importance of cultivating and preserving history no doubt is more than ever vital, especially in today's society. This belief was strongly entrenched in the Akan tribe, and it's an idea that should be seen as important today.
With the history of the Sankofa Bird, the current climate, and Black History Month in mind, the special design for the Color Morphing Mug was born.
As you take a sip, maybe reflecting on the popular adage, "Black History is History" will hopefully move you to take a deeper dive into many of the accomplishments of the Black race!
References:
https://www.berea.edu/centers/carter-g-woodson-center-for-interracial-education/the-power-of-sankofa
https://asalh.org/about-us/origins-of-black-history-month/ author, Daryl Michael Scott
Comments