In 2010 on research trip to Washington DC, I visited the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and saw this fabric on display. According to the museum’s site, this fabric, called adinkra, is from mid-late 19th century Ghana, and was worn by royalty during mourning. Adinkra means message, separation or leave taking. This particular cloth was worn by Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I, 13th king ruler of the Ashanti Empire, on the day he was deposed by the British in 1896—surely a day of mourning.
Screenshot of Adinkra worn by Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I, January 1896. Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
This black and white batik Wendy skirt is from Art Fabrik on Young Street, St George’s, Grenada. Lilo Nido, the artist of this one of a kind skirt, explained the design flows from her heart and world experiences to her hands and through the wax onto the fabric. Her world message is in captured in the symbols on the fabric. This skirt, which I bought well over 10 years ago, possibly around the time I went to DC, has become my adinkra. I wear it constantly to keep me cool while I work through and past my mourning, gently taking leave of my old self, and moving forward, because life goes on.
Me and my adinkra. Photo: Prensnelo
In summary, adinkra is a cloth, signifying message, mourning, separation or leave taking. My adinkra is a crucial element in my installation Foreigner Within, at the Grenada Pavilion, at the Venice Biennale.
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