Seasoned Ghanaian artist Kweku A.G. Opoku on Wednesday, February 18, officially launched his book, Adi Nhyia – A Book of Symbols, at the Ghana Club, describing it as a deliberate effort to expand Ghana’s symbolic and visual language for contemporary times.
In an exclusive interview with Channel One TV, the former creative director said the idea for the book stemmed from a question that had stayed with him throughout his career as a designer.
“I kept asking myself, with my knowledge and background, why am I or my colleagues not adding on to this legacy that has been left for us?” he said. “And you don’t really get answers from people.”
The book features 30 newly created symbols conceptualised by Mr. Opoku. While inspired by traditional Adinkra symbols, he stressed that he deliberately avoided altering the original forms. He explained that the title Adi Nhyia, meaning “welcome,” was intentionally chosen as a contrast to Adinkra, which means “farewell.”
“To respect the body of work of Adinkra, you can’t touch it now,” Opoku noted. “I can’t have the audacity to say I’m adding to it. But I can add to it conceptually by developing new ones.”
He said the new symbols reflect modern realities, just as Adinkra symbols were shaped by the social contexts of their time.
“The inspiration is simply what is around me now,” he said. “I grew up in a world which had pen, so one of the symbols is based on the pen. These things help us inculcate into the minds of the younger ones what has been before them, so they can also move on.”
Mr. Opoku’s professional journey spans academia and advertising. He taught at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), where he was among its founders and later served as director. He also spent nearly two decades in advertising with Ogilvy (formerly MMRS Ogilvy), rising to the position of Managing Director before retiring in 2012.
After retirement, he returned fully to painting, writing, and personal creative projects, eventually committing to producing Adi Nhyia about three and a half years ago.
“I’ve been sketching all these years,” he said. “But the decision to go ahead and do something tangible is only like three and a half years ago.”
He acknowledged that his greatest obstacle was not technical, but psychological.
“The challenge is always your own fear,” Opoku admitted. “You hesitate because you’re not sure what people will think. But I decided I was going to do it.”
Beyond publishing the book, he said his aim is to encourage younger creatives to innovate rather than rely solely on inherited traditions.
“In the creative industry, we need to look beyond what we have now,” he said. “That’s how you inspire younger generations to build upon it.”
The launch attracted several prominent personalities, including former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei, Nana Agyenim Boateng I, and journalist and academic Kwame Karikari. They commended Mr. Opoku’s resilience and described the publication as a significant contribution to the promotion of Ghana’s culture and heritage.
Adi Nhyia – A Book of Symbols is currently available at Kingdom Books as well as on major online platforms, including Amazon and eBay.
