The Meaning of Colors
Yellow: Yellow represents the yoke of an egg, ripe and edible fruits and
vegetables and mineral gold. This color symbolizes sanctity, royalty, wealth, preciousness,
spirituality, vitality and fertility.
Pink: Pink is linked to the female essence of life. This color is viewed
as mild and gentle and so is associated with calmness, tenderness, pleasantness
and sweetness. According to the Akan, these are essential aspects of the female
essence.
Red: Red is linked to blood, the shedding of it, and sacrificial rites. The
color represents seriousness, or readiness for a political or spiritual encounter.
It also represents sacrifice and struggle.
Blue: This color represents the blue sky and supreme creator. It is affiliated
with spiritual sanctity, peacefulness, harmony, good fortune, and love.
Green: Green is associated with herbal medicine, vegetation, harvesting and
planting. Green leaves are used to sprinkle water during purification rituals. The
color symbolizes growth, vitality, prosperity, fertility, fruitfulness, health and
spiritual rejuvenation.
Purple: Purple and maroon are viewed in the same way. This color is used
in rituals and healing processes. Purple cloths are mostly worn by females as they
are also seen to represent female aspects of life.
Maroon: Maroon has a close resemblance to red-brown, which is associated
with mother earth. The color is acquired from clay and is associated with healing
and repelling evil spirits.
White: This symbolically represents the white part of the egg and white clay
which is often used in spiritual practices, healing, and festivals. White is often
used in combination with black, green, or yellow to articulate the notion of spirituality,
vitality, and balance.
Gray: This color represents ash, it is also used for healing and spiritual
practices, often for spiritual balance or spiritual cleansing.
Silver: Silver is related to the moon and represents female essence of life.
Silver items are often worn by women for spiritual purification, naming ceremonies,
marriage, and other village festivals. Silver symbolizes serenity, purity, and joy.
Gold: This color is associated with the commercial aspects of Ghana and social
prestige related to the mineral. Gold symbolizes royalty, wealth, elegance and high
status. Historically it has been used as a medium of exchange.
Black: This color has the idea that things get darker as
they get older and mature. The Akan blacken most of the ritual objects to increase
spiritual strength, Symbolizes spiritual energy, communication with ancestral spirits,
and maturity.