A Symbol That Teaches Time Itself

Among the richest legacies of African symbolism is the Sankofa bird, an emblem of wisdom, reflection, and continuity. Originating with the Akan people of Ghana, the Sankofa bird is depicted flying forward while turning its head back to retrieve an egg. That egg is not merely a symbol—it is the embodiment of knowledge, legacy, and the lessons of ancestors.

Sankofa, often translated as “Go back and fetch it,” is a philosophy as much as a symbol. It teaches that the past is not behind us—it is a resource to guide the present and shape the future. In a world where memory is too often erased, distorted, or undervalued, the Sankofa bird reminds us: our survival, creativity, and freedom depend on retrieving the truths our ancestors entrusted to us.

This month, we honor Sankofa not just as a symbol but as a guide. We reflect, we retrieve, and we rise, carrying forward the courage, insight, and strategies of generations who came before us.

Origins of Sankofa and the Wisdom of the Akan People

The Akan people, inhabiting what is now modern-day Ghana and Ivory Coast, developed a system of visual symbols known as Adinkra. Each symbol carries deep philosophical, ethical, and practical teachings. The Sankofa bird is among the most renowned, encapsulating the power of memory and intentional action.

In Akan philosophy, time is not linear. The past, present, and future are interwoven in a continuum where lessons and successes of previous generations inform the possibilities of today. The bird looking backward is a vivid reminder that progress is most sustainable when it is rooted in knowledge—historical, cultural, and spiritual.

“It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten,” the proverb goes.

Sankofa teaches that memory is a tool of liberation, a strategy for survival. To ignore history is to repeat mistakes, but to retrieve ancestral wisdom is to act with clarity and strength.

Reflect: Learning From the Past

Reflection is the first step of Sankofa. As the year ends, we are called to pause, assess, and honor the knowledge and achievements that came before us. This is not mere nostalgia—it is strategic insight.

Looking back, we recognize the many heroes whose work lights our path:

• Queen Nanny, who led Maroon communities to freedom, blended strategy, spirituality, and communal care.
  
• Kwame Ture, who made Black Power a global philosophy, connecting local action to international liberation.
  
• Fred Hampton, who showed that coalition-building and direct service are as revolutionary as protest.
  
• Alicia Garza, whose words and organizing continue to spark movements worldwide.
  

Reflection asks us to see patterns, extract lessons, and honor the sacrifices that made our current possibilities possible. It encourages us to ask: Which strategies worked? Which missteps offer caution? Which values must we carry forward unflinchingly?

“Without reflection, there can be no clarity; without clarity, no action,” could well be the modern mantra of Sankofa.

Retrieve: Gathering Knowledge, Wisdom, and Power

The second step of Sankofa is retrieval. The egg in the bird’s beak is a metaphor for the knowledge, skills, and culture we must actively reclaim. Retrieval is not passive; it is intentional. It requires research, storytelling, mentorship, and study.

Retrieval asks us to:

• Uncover erased or hidden history – From enslaved resistance fighters to African-centered scholars, much of our heritage was obscured by colonial and racist narratives. Retrieving these stories restores pride and strategic understanding.
  
• Gather lessons from lived experience – Personal and familial histories carry insights about survival, community-building, and resilience.
  
• Translate knowledge into action – Wisdom must be applied in daily life, from raising children to organizing communities.
  

Retrieval is both a personal and collective act. It strengthens individuals, families, and communities. It bridges generations by connecting children with elders, students with teachers, and activists with the struggles that came before.

“The past is not dead. It is the soil in which our freedom grows.”

By retrieving the past, we reclaim authority over our story, over the narrative of our survival, and over the tools we need to rise.

Rise: Turning Reflection and Retrieval Into Liberation

Reflection and retrieval are incomplete without the final step: rising. Sankofa calls us to take the wisdom we’ve gathered and use it to shape our present and future. Rising is not simply movement—it is purposeful, informed action.

To rise is to:

• Build structures that endure – Programs, schools, businesses, and cultural institutions rooted in historical wisdom are resilient against oppression.
  
• Mentor the next generation – Rising involves passing knowledge, tools, and courage to those who follow, ensuring that each wave of leaders is stronger than the last.
  
• Integrate history into activism – Modern movements are empowered when strategy and tactics reflect lessons from past struggles.
  

December is the perfect time to rise because it is a moment of transition. The year closes, and we have an opportunity to integrate lessons learned, victories won, and challenges endured into a coherent plan for the year ahead. Rising is the act of turning memory into momentum, ensuring that each movement, effort, or act of service is amplified by history’s wisdom.

“Go back and fetch it,” the Sankofa bird tells us—then use what you’ve gathered to soar higher than you could alone.

Sankofa as a Cultural Compass

The Sankofa philosophy is not abstract; it is practical, spiritual, and revolutionary. It teaches that liberation work is cumulative, intergenerational, and strategic.

• Intergenerational Leadership – Elders guide, youth execute, and communities flourish when knowledge flows across age groups.
  
• Continuity Across Movements – The threads that connect slave revolts, civil rights actions, Pan-African movements, and modern social justice efforts are retrievable and applicable today.
  
• Identity and Pride – Retrieving ancestral wisdom strengthens individual and collective identity, fostering pride that fuels action.
  

Sankofa reminds us that moving forward without reflection is blindness. Every song, story, teaching, and artifact from our history is a resource waiting to be retrieved.

Practical Ways to Practice Sankofa

Applying Sankofa is an active, creative, and communal practice:

1. Storytelling – Gather oral histories from elders, family members, or community leaders. Record them, discuss them, and integrate them into education.
   
2. Study Historical Movements – Analyze the successes and failures of leaders like Queen Nanny, Fred Hampton, and Kwame Ture. Apply their lessons to today’s challenges.
   
3. Community Rituals – Annual reflections, cultural celebrations, and commemorative events allow communities to remember collectively.
   
4. Documentation and Archives – Create written or digital archives that preserve culture, activism, and leadership for the future.
   

Through these practices, the Sankofa bird’s wisdom is transformed from symbol to living strategy.

Reflection Questions

Which lessons are you carrying into the new year?

Who will you teach, mentor, or honor next?

How will you apply retrieved wisdom in your community, family, or work?

What ancestral knowledge have you overlooked that might guide your next steps?

Explore the Tradition

Give the gift of legacy this season and help others rise with you:
👉🏾 Holiday Bundle + Flashcard Gift Sets – explore history, leadership, and cultural wisdom with family and community.

Join the Sankofa Universe to share reflections, mentor others, and build collective momentum:
🔗 [Sankofa Universe Community]
Use #ReclaimTheFlame when sharing your stories to connect your learning and leadership to a larger movement.

Look back to move forward. This holiday, give the gift of legacy and learning.

Gift: Flashcard Bundles + Sankofa Club Access

Add these to your collection and pass the power forward

Check 5 Deck Bundle

Check Sankofa Club

💬 Let’s Talk:

Had you heard of Queen Nanny before this? What lessons can we take from her leadership today?

👇 Drop a comment and share this with someone who needs to know our real history.