"Sankofa can mean either the word in the Akan language of Ghana that translates in English to "go back and take" (Sanko- go back, fa- take) or the Asante Adinkra symbol
The Asante of Ghana use an Adinkra symbol to represent this same idea and one version of it is similar to the eastern symbol of a heart, and another version is that of a bird with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back. It symbolizes one taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge.
Adinkra symbols are used by the Asante to express proverbs and other philosophical ideas. These ideas are numerous and are used throughout the world because of their aesthetic and spiritual beauty. Sankofa has since been adopted by other cultural groups in the area and around the world
Janet Jackson has a Sankofa symbol tattooed on her right wrist. It is the symbol of her 1997 album The Velvet Rope, but stylized and inverted, possibly meaning the opposite: instead of understanding the past to go on, we must go on to understand the past. (The artist Zulu makes no mention of it being inverted and states that the symbol is indeed about understanding and learning from the past in order to move on to the future. Perhaps the orientation of the symbol has more to do with whether it is to be viewed by Janet herself, or by others.)"
Wikipedia:Sankofa
Now that you know what it means (and the Janet jackson reference) I also wanted to say why I personally got it. As you probably know I am a huge Janet Jackson fan, but that isn't the only reason. Yes I had never heard of the Sankofa symbol before I knew of Janet Jackson, but it applies to me. I have things in my past, good and bad that I have and will continue to grow and learn from. The Sankofa symbol on my right shoulder blade will just be a reminder to me.
Thanks 4 reading what I have to say.
MYM Janetbouncer
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