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Construction
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If a school or college team has raised funds for a specific building project, there maybe planning
time to research the building materials and be a part of the design process. In Ghana the influence of Akan
architecture can be widely seen; the variety of forms and design styles reflect the Ghanaian spirit of independence
and encode expressive messages within the walls, columns, entrances and ceilings. Akan adrinka symbols can be used
to demarcate the areas between the fie (inside, private) home life and abonten (outside, public) life. The fihankra
(compound house) style of building consists of a central quadrangle which is enclosed on all four sides with rooms.
The compound house and use of the fihankra symbol represents protection, security and spirituality. The concept of
fihankra reinforces the idea of close family ties and unity.
In front of the house is placed a stump called the Nyame dua (God’s alter) which symbolises God’s presence and
protection. When one enters the house, the open courtyard paado represents the public space within the house. This
open courtyard has multiple uses. It is usually surrounded by a verandah where guests may be received. A bigger group
of guests are usually received in the dampan (the empty room). It has many uses, from welcoming visitors, holding
court to laying the dead in state during funerals. In a big Akan house there are women’s quarters, mmaa mu, which has
its own courtyard and private rooms.
The Akan house is not only well ventilated, it is resilient and can withstand the hazards of storms, rainfall and the
tropical hot weather. This is encoded in the symbol mframadan which means well ventilated or breezy house! The use
of the decorative symbols in relief and block forms emphasises the artistic beauty of the aesthetically appealing Akan
belief system and captures the social meaning and significance within the building. Some examples are given below:
- The Children’s Library Complex in Accra incorporates mmabunu benyini (the young shall grow)
- The medical students hostel at the University of Science and Technology has a yen yiedie wall (our well being)
- Many churches have columns and walls with the symbols biribi wo soro which means there is something in the heavens
- The Asennua cross symbol is often used to make wall blocks, yesu bewuu wo asennua so begyee adasa nkwa, literal
translation means, Jesus died on the coss to save mankind; it is used in architectural designs to symbolise supreme sacrifice,
redemption and selflessness.
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