News — Ebenezer Akakpo

Ashanah here! I personally always have Africa on the brain. My junior year of college I did an abroad experience in Tanzania. A key thing I learned was how important local culture varies across the continent, and how important these traditions mean to the community. I one day hope to see as much of Africa as possible. Which is why when I discovered that our new craft artist is originally from Ghana  I needed to learn more. As always I encourage you to come wonder around the gallery. You’ll be sure to notice we have a neat series of cups...

Every month PelotonLabs co-founder Liz Trice interviews a local community member. This month, Liz caught up with Ebenezer Akakpo, an artist and entrepreneur who takes inspiration for jewelry and houseware designs from the ancient Adinkra symbols of his boyhood home of Ghana.  What is the meaning of the Adinkra symbols you work with?  The symbols are from my native country. Depending on the symbol, they can represent what’s most important to a person, such as friendship, hope, or endurance. These ancient, Ghanaian symbols have appeared in cloth, architecture, and homes for centuries. In fact, architects and graphic designers in Ghana...

The panels of the bus shelter are stamped with outlines of traditional Ghanaian Adinkra symbols for hope and friendship. Ghanaian artist Ebenezer Akakpo presents a unique collection of ideas and creations with the visual Language symbols or Adinkra symbols from Ghana.