Residents of all ages gathered at the Carmine Carro Community Center in Marine Park on Saturday morning, February 1st, to partake in a Textile Arts Workshop and learn about Adinkra symbols.
Organized by the Marine Park Alliance, with assistance from Brooklyn College, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse (District 46), and others, the Black History Month event was not only about expressing yourself artistically and creating crafts, but also learning about another culture. The workshop was curated by Dr. Myra Brown Green, an art historian/consultant and professor at Medgar Evers College.
“This event is open to everyone who had an interest, but was also an opportunity for them to learn a bit about African history, particularly the symbols that are mentioned,” Dr. Simanique Moody, assistant professor at Brooklyn College, said. Dr. Moody helped organize the event, as well as a Kwanzaa ceremony in 2024 (see “Celebrating Kwanzaa with Dancing, Joy and Unity,” Canarsie Courier, December 26, 2024). “In any case, I reached out to Dr. Myra Brown Green about it, and she responded and was very excited about it.”
Dr. Brown Green explained the significance of Adinkra symbols, which represent concepts, proverbs and aphorisms and are found in fabrics, logos and pottery.
“The Adinkra are proverbial symbols,” Dr. Brown Green said. “They’re centuries old, proverbial symbols from the Ashanti people of West Ghana. The Gye Nyame means there’s no power greater than the Most High; whoever you serve, it means omnipotence. The symbols mean different things; they’re proverbs. Another example is of these crocodiles sharing the same stomach (Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu), which means unity.”
There are more than 200 Adinkra symbols and each one has its significance. One symbol, Nsoromma, resembles a star and stands for “children of the heavens,” representing the belief in a supreme deity and God’s guardianship.
Both newcomers and skilled knitters learned something new while honing their knitting skills. They chose from a variety of colorful felt, knitting materials and embroidery thread for their art craft.
“(Arthritis) moves in and does not want to leave; it stays with you, and sometimes I can’t even open my fingers,” Carol Johnson said. “However, I’m enjoying myself because you have to keep busy. If I don’t use or open them up, they’ll stiffen.”
As people were finishing their projects, Dr. Brown Green emphasized the importance of exploring cultures worldwide and the need to celebrate Black History not only for one month of the year.
“We’re happy to kick off Black History Month right on February 1st with our Textile Arts Workshop with Dr. Myra Brown Green,” MPA Executive Director Scott Middleton said. We’re pleased to see so many people turn out from the Brooklyn Quilters Guild, the Flossy Organization, Canarsie and the Marine Park Young Adults Association, and we’re happy that everyone came and took the opportunity to learn about Adinkra symbols from Dr. Brown Green.”
