Symbolic Values: Why We Wove Our Software Consultancy from Ghana’s Historic Fabrics
It’s no world for culturally–indifferent tech, so turntabl leads with our Ghanaian heritage. It also teaches us a few things about contributing to the greater good. Today, we explore the evergreen relevance of the ancient Adinkra symbols.
My fellow Ghanaians and Ghana Fans,
You may have noticed one of these symbols on local traditional clothing and wondered why it’s there. What is it? Where does it come from?
Short answer: it’s Adinkra.
Our unmistakable symbols hail from the Bono people of Gyaman. The Gyaman King, Nana Kwadwo Agyemang Adinkra, designed these symbols and named them after himself. The king popularised Adinkra cloth, and after Bono Gyaman’s fall, it spread to Asante and other Akan kingdoms. It’s said the guild designers who made this cloth for the kings were forced to teach the Asantes the craft.
Over time, the Akan people made Adinkra a major part of their culture as they all descended from the ancient Bono Kingdom. Now they’ve moved beyond the Akan kingdom to play significant parts in weddings, naming ceremonies, major life events and even business parties!
Next question: “What do adinkras have to do with turntabl?”
At this point, you may be asking yourself: ‘What does traditional Ghanaian symbolism have to do with turntabl, a young and modern tech consultancy?’. The answer is: ‘Quite a lot, actually!’.
Indeed, though people use these emblems in different ways for a variety of reasons, there’s always a common purpose: storytelling. That quiet university degree holder illustrating their graduation sentiments with an Adinkra on their ceremonial sash? That’s one way to use them!
They subtly express the wearer’s mood. They also convey their way of life via an adage, statement or quote. Adinkra can represent historical events, human behaviour and philosophies, animal traits, plant life forms and object shapes. As new influences impact Ghanaian culture, the symbols keep evolving, and some even honour technological advancements.
Adinkra is that little reminder that you are Ghanaian and certain values and conduct are expected of you.
turntabl is a proudly Ghanaian company. Our mission is not only to develop the technology industry in Ghana and give young talents the opportunity of a lifetime, but in doing so, we also want to make sure local culture and beliefs are respected and appreciated. Therefore, our company’s behavioural principles and values align with Adinkra’s symbolism and archetypes!
Let’s see some of them, beginning with the Nsaa.
To readers who don’t know Ghana’s Twi dialect, I apologise in advance, but you shouldn’t go missing on this journey. :)
Nsaa, Technical Excellence
Nsaa portrays authenticity and brilliance, which connects to turntabl’s core value of technical excellence. We strictly avoid giving average or mediocre performances on the global tech scene. This is why we combine years of experience and knowledge with the modern expertise of Ghana’s growing tech community. Our high-level quality exists because it is unique. That’s the turntabl way of advancing society.
Bese Saka, Togetherness
The symbol of “togetherness,” Bese Saka, a bag of kola nuts, serves as a reminder of turntabl’s principle of collaboration and teamwork.
Here’s a little story about Bese Saka. It gained economic value during the barter system when people met to trade kola nuts and share the wealth. Their community spirit reflects turntabl’s principle that teamwork makes the dream work.
That’s why, aside from the regular 9 to 5 workday, we host get-togethers to foster team unity and encourage employees’ ideas and feedback. Tailored daily check-ins and one-on-one sessions also make everyone feel welcome and valued.
Me Ware Wo, Commitment
Finally, Me Ware Wo is a symbol of commitment and perseverance, and links back to one of our most important behavioural principles: Commitment!
Me ware wo, which means “I shall marry you,” is typically a promise from a man to a woman. How did that become an Adinkra symbol, you might ask? It came from the proverb, “No one rushes into the job of mixing the concrete for building the house of marriage.”
Getting married is not just something you do in Ghanaian culture. You need to understand what it takes and the kinds of problems that come up. Whatever you encounter, you must also be prepared to overcome it. You don’t rush into it, and you don’t leave halfway.
This highlights the level of mindful devotion it takes to achieve anything worthwhile, not only marriage. It parallels turntabl’s code of conduct: the constant dedication to development and growth. We never stop progressing or settle for less.
It also spotlights how much providing quality services means to turntabl’s relationships. We guarantee our clients our clear commitment every time. Our integrity and technical expertise ensure we never compromise on bringing you the best.
Still think the turntabl culture isn’t Ghanaian after this Adinkra piece? Surely not! So feel free to talk to us at www.turntabl.io, because who knows what we can achieve together?
Written by Ama Sarpomaah
