Dunwõtwe is the number eighteen. The actual Twi spelling is dunwɔtwe.

Ei is pronounced ey and connotes the utterance “eh” or “whoa,” depending on the context.

Ekutu means “orange,” as in the fruit. But it’s not Twi. It’s actually a word spoken in the Fante language, which is from the Fante people, who are prominent on the coast of Ghana.

Ete sen is a traditional greeting for when you first see someone. It means “How are you?” The actual Twi spelling is te sɛn.

Kenkey is a West African dish similar to dumplings, usually served with pepper sauce and fried fish or soup.

Kente is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of colorful, interwoven cloth strips. Formerly only worn by royalty, kente cloth is worn today by many people, who regard it as a symbol of African pride and dignity.

Kokoduru is my abbreviation of the phrase koko yɛ duru, which means “to be brave.” I use it here as a way of declaring “I got this” or “You got this.”

Komm means “quiet” or “silence.”

Maame is “mother” or “mommy.”

Medase means “Thank you.”

Me din de means “My name is” and is used to introduce yourself.

Me ko is spelled Me kɔ and means “I go” or “I gotta go” or, as I understand it, “I’m outta here.”

Nana is a gender-neutral title representing the highest office in society. It is also a term used to denote “grandmother,” “grandfather,” or “elder.”

Ose yie is an Asante war chant I found on one of the great crooner/activist Harry Belafonte’s old albums.

Red Red is a Ghanaian dish (like Kofi, my absolute, hands-down favorite) comprised of black-eyed peas. The dish derives its name from the color it takes on from the red palm oil in which it’s cooked (and the fried plantain sometimes served with it).

Wahala means “trouble.”

Ye ko is spelled Ye kɔ and means “Let’s go” or “We go” or, as I sometimes say, “We’re outta here.”

ADINKRA SYMBOLS

(In Order of Appearance)

I placed these symbols at the beginning of each section to foreshadow what’s about to happen. Used for hundreds of years by Ghanaians, Adinkra symbols capture the history, way of life, and philosophy of the Asante people. Their representations and meanings are linked to fables and are used to bestow wisdom and knowledge. They are popular on fabrics, pottery, buildings, and crafts and as tattoos.

Sankofa is portrayed by a mythical bird turning its head backward to eat a precious egg. The symbol means that we should remember and learn from the past to make positive progress in the future. The literal translation is “to retrieve.”

Mpatapo represents the bond or knot that binds parties in a dispute to a peaceful, harmonious reconciliation. It is a symbol of peacemaking after strife.