Ten Iconic Symbols in African Print Fabric

African print fabric carries more than color. Every pattern in the Ankara and wax print tradition was developed inside a culture — shaped by a community's beliefs, by the names people gave their experiences, and by the values they wanted to pass forward. When I work with these fabrics, I am not just selecting something visually striking. I am making a choice about what the quilt will say.

The meanings I share here come from a combination of research, community knowledge, and years of conversations with clients who have brought these fabrics to my studio. Many interpretations have been passed down through oral tradition rather than any single written source. There are hundreds of African print styles — this post covers ten that I find particularly meaningful and that show up most often in my work.

1. Kente

Kente is not a printed fabric — it is woven, traditionally made on narrow strip looms by the Ashanti and Ewe peoples of Ghana. I include it here because it is the textile most people think of first when they think of African fabric, and its symbolism is too important to leave out.

Each color in Kente carries meaning. Gold represents royalty and prosperity. Blue stands for peace and love. Green reflects growth and renewal. Black signifies spiritual strength and maturity. The patterns themselves are named and connected to proverbs, historical events, or traditional beliefs. Kente is worn during important moments — weddings, graduations, ceremonies that mark transition or achievement.

When a client brings Kente into a quilt project, it is almost always tied to a milestone. That is exactly what the fabric was made for.

2. Crevette

The word "crevette" is French for shrimp, and the design features a curved, shell-like shape that echoes the form of a shrimp or prawn. The pattern represents adaptability and the ability to navigate life's twists and turns with grace.

I reach for Crevette when I am building a quilt for someone who has demonstrated real strength through change — a career pivot, a move, a loss navigated quietly and with dignity. The curve of the pattern feels right for those stories.

3. Sika Wo Antaban

Also called "Speedbird", this phrase comes from the Akan language and translates to "money has wings." It is a reminder that wealth can come and go — and that the real measure of a person is what they do with it while they have it. The pattern teaches humility, responsibility, and the value of generosity over accumulation.

I use Sika Wo Antaban to honor people who worked hard, gave freely, and understood that what you leave behind matters more than what you held onto.

4. Guineafowl

Easily recognized by its dotted, feather-like pattern mimicking the plumage of the bird, the Guineafowl print represents beauty, community, and protection. In many African cultures, the guineafowl is known for its strong social behavior and its instinct to warn others of danger — making it a symbol of vigilance and unity.

I use this print to celebrate family, protection, and legacy. It is a natural choice for quilts made to honor matriarchs and patriarchs — people who spent their lives watching out for everyone else.

5. Nsubra

Nsubra is the Akan word for well, and the symbol represents nourishment, community, and the essential role of shared resources. In many African villages, the water well was the center of daily life — a gathering place where people met, talked, and supported one another.

The design often features circular or ripple-like shapes echoing the surface of water. I use Nsubra to honor people known for their generosity — the ones who always had something to offer, whose presence made everyone around them steadier.

6. Highlife

The Highlife pattern takes its name from the vibrant music and dance culture that flourished in Ghana and Nigeria in the mid-twentieth century, where dressing boldly in printed fabrics was part of the celebration. The pattern represents joy, upward mobility, and the enjoyment of life earned through effort.

I use Highlife for quilts that mark achievements like graduations, promotions, milestones that deserve to be announced loudly. The fabric itself has the energy of a room full of people celebrating something real.

7. Sugarcane

Sugarcane represents sweetness after struggle, hard work, and the rewards of patience and perseverance. Sugarcane must be cultivated carefully and harvested with effort, but its natural sweetness is revealed only after the labor is done. This makes it a powerful symbol of hard work and meaningful reward.

I use sugarcane to honor someone who worked hard for their family, overcame adversity, or lived a life marked by quiet strength.

8. Santana

In African print fabric, Santana comes from the phrase often associated with the print: "Darling, don't turn your back on me." It is said to represent an angry woman lying in bed with her back to her husband, who is asking for forgiveness and begging her to turn around.

Including Santana in a quilt is a way to honor the full range of emotion, from devotion to heartbreak, and to give space to the stories that aren't always easy to tell, but deserve to be remembered.

9. Kwadusa

Kwadusa is the Twi name for a popular African print design. This design is often referred to as "Bunch of Bananas". It directly translates to "banana hand" in Twi, referring to a cluster of bananas. In Ghana, the design is also known as "Independence," symbolizing Ghana's independence and the strength and unity of its people.

I use Kwadusa fabric to celebrate stories of growth, generosity, and the strength of family ties. It is significant in memory quilts that honor people who provided for others or held families together.

10. Efie Mmosea

Efie mmosea, which translates to "the gravel of the home" in Akan, speaks to the idea that when hurt comes from within the family, it cuts the deepest. Just like walking barefoot on stones, pain from a loved one can feel unexpected and sharp because it comes from a place where we expect comfort and safety. It is a visual reminder that home is not only a place of love, but also a space where deep emotional challenges can live.

I may use it to honor someone who endured complex family dynamics or to acknowledge the complexity of love and pain within a household.

What This Means in a Quilt

Choosing a fabric is a design decision, but it is also a statement. When I build a quilt with African print fabric, the client and I talk about what each pattern carries before anything is cut. The finished quilt is not just something beautiful to look at, it is a document of what we chose to say.

If you have African print fabric you want incorporated into a quilt, or if you want to build something that draws on this tradition, reach out. These are some of my favorite projects to work through.

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