royal elegance

Ghana's famed Gye Nyame symbol emerges in this design by Joycelyn Sena Zigah; its rotating form means, "I fear none except God." Known as an adinkra symbol, this image is revered throughout the country. The Ghanaian artisan depicts the West African image on a men's ring, handcrafted of sterling silver.

.925 Sterling silver

Based on traditional Ghanaian artistry, this elegant mask boasts bold colors. Ali Mohammed creates an original design of graceful lines. Carved by hand of seasoned sese wood, it is named Odehyie, or "royal mask" in the Akan language.

His call beckons all to court, for this horn blower is appointed by royal command. A palace regular, his horn is known by all to be the Akan king's summons for a discussion on stately affairs. George Obeng employs locally handmade tools to carve this statuette from teak wood, his exceptional skill evident in the musician's careful detailing. A master carver, Obeng captures the messenger's dedication and proud devotion as he undertakes the responsibility of gathering everyone for the meeting. A work of splendid elegance, this statuette is certain to instill admiration.

Wear Ghana's classic style in an elegant and sophisticated way with Nakz-Couture's newest design. Crafted from cotton, this elastic bonnet in a palette of green, yellow and orange hues features a traditional geometric pattern that will add a graceful look to your days. The piece is also equipped with ties that allow for fitted use.

A trumpeting elephant races across the forehead of this regal African mask. By Rita Addo Zakour, it features elegant, handcrafted textures. The artisan presents the mask with a stand so that it can be displayed on the wall or on a table.

Blue and white complement red, yellow and green in a colorful scarf from Rachel Armah. Woven by hand, traditional West African kente cloth depicts a design known as Akyem, or "shield." It's symbolism comes from an Akan proverb and represents bravery, heroic deeds and glorious accomplishment. Its message is that people's good deeds live after them.

Each strip of kente cloth requires considerable effort, and the looms are worked with both hands and feet. Each color has its own meanings in Asante culture. Green is fertility and new harvest, gold is royalty, black is strength, aging and spirituality, and white is purity.

Originated by the Akan peoples of Ghana, colorful kente cloth is the best-known of all African textiles. Kente cloth is woven in strips, which is how it came by its name (kente means "basket" in the Ashanti dialect). Ghana's Rachel Armah creates this colorful cotton blend scarf in cheerful shades of purple, saffron, brown and aqua.

In kente cloth, each color has a symbolic meaning: black symbolizes maturation and intensified spiritual energy; blue signifies peacefulness, harmony and love; green symbolizes vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, and spiritual renewal; gold represents royalty, wealth, high status, glory, and spiritual purity; grey is for healing and cleansing rituals; maroon signifies the color of mother earth, associated with healing; pink and purple are associated with the female essence and female aspects of life; red symbolizes political and spiritual moods, bloodshed, sacrificial rites and death; silver is associated with the moon and represents serenity, purity, and joy; white is for purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions; and yellow represents preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility, and beauty.

Inspired by African royalty, Ghanaian artisan Ibrahim Seyeed designs an elegant African mask. Perfect for displaying on a tabletop, the mask is hand-carved of local sese wood, featuring a diamond shape below the round face. Sayeed paints it in colors of brown, red, and yellow, accenting the face and base with embossed aluminum and brass that reflects traditional scarification practices. A bird rests atop the head. Sayeed names the mask naab poak, meaning "queen" in the Wala language.