A friend and I were talking about our upcoming weekend plans; she mentioned that she was going to camp. As I love camp, my ears perked up and I immediately wanted to know more. I was moved while listening to her talk about Camp Wabanaki, a bereavement retreat for adults, and a wonderful project called ‘Beads for Brits,’ both sponsored by Hospice of the Chesapeake.  In this project, volunteers from the community, and from the bereavement retreats, share in the creation of beaded bracelets. The proceeds from the sales go to a sister organization in Brits, South Africa and helps feed a small village.

While listening, I was inspired. My love of African art history, combined with my belief that sharing both losses and hopes are integral parts of healing, made creating a bead with andinkra symbols for the bracelets seem so natural. When I mentioned this to my friend, we knew the Beads for Brits project had evolved.

The use of Andinkra symbols in Africa dates back to the early 1700's, possibly earlier. In the Akan language, much like the English language, parts of words each have meaning and when combined form a new word with a meaning all it’s own. In the word andinkra , ‘di’ means ‘to make use of or to employ.’ ‘Nkra’ means ‘message’. When combined, ‘di and nkra’ mean "to part, to be separated, to leave one another, or to say goodbye." Thus, the word andinkra implies "a message a soul takes along when leaving the earth.."

For many cultures the loss of a loved one is not only a time of sorrow, but also a time for the celebration of life. On a personal level, the ‘celebration of life’ resonates very strongly with my experiences over the years. After a series of unsuccessful pregnancies, my daughter was born prematurely with complications. Her life was effectively lost and then revived, forever changing the way I see the world, as a person, a mother, and an artist.

This jewelry is an outward symbol and talisman that represents my hope for peace and healing in each individual. The design on the jewelry is inspired by two of my favorite andinkra symbols. The symbol with circles is known as the ‘king’ of the andinkras , representing inspiration and trust in something that is greater than ourselves. The other is inspired by the symbol that represents hope . To create the jewelry I’ve carved designs into a plate and then used it to texture fine silver clay. Each fine silver piece is individually made, one of a kind, and signed. When wearing a piece of this jewelry, know that there is always hope, and that you are never alone.