The “Sankofa" sign from the Adinkra symbols formed by the Akan people of Ghana, when entering into the shop.  The Sankofa symbol also signifies the importance of learning from the past; it is the West African word meaning “looking backward to move forward.”  

The concept of SANKOFA is derived from King Adinkera of the Akan people of West Afrika. SANKOFA is expressed in the Akan language as "se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki."  Literally translated it means "It is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot".

"Sankofa" teach us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward.

Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of, can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated.

Visually and symbolically "Sankofa" is expressed as a mythic bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg (symbolizing the future) in its mouth.

As I embark on yet another Holiday Season I remember my Ancestors.  I remember the preparations of the Holiday cooking.  I can still see their faces, Grandmother Rebecca looking on as Auntie Zetter chopped and grated with that familiar hum that she would do.  I still see Uncle Booker, whose Birthday is approaching in the garage as he would be skinning our preparing to boil wild meat.  I take pride in having been able to stop by to see Auntie Zetter after I had collected my sons from home after work and being blessed with a warm meal as she talked and taught us a way of life in loving and respecting our Elders.  It is why I still play a verse from, Rise and Shine one of the songs on the CD Andre’ was on.  He sang, “Mama cried, Auntie Zetter died, saying Lord forgive the children for they have sinned they are all gonna die good bad lose or win.” It let me know that he was listening.  I played it over and over again at his Wake.

It is hard as I miss the old days and ways of life, but I move forward with comfort knowing that my Ancestors were here at one point to teach and give guidance.  When you have sat with them and followed their ways you in some ways do become them, in all that they were.  So, this Holiday I give tribute to all of my Ancestor and yours and our young who as it was said to me that are in an Ancestral state our Guardian Angels that give us strength for our love for them will never die no matter what anyone has to say.  This is why it is important to know your inner self and be proud of where you came from.

Blessings!