Duafe Meaning | Adinkra Symbol Guide

Duafe means "wooden comb" in Twi, and it is the Adinkra symbol for the feminine qualities most valued in Akan culture: love, care, patience, and beauty. It is shaped like a traditional wooden hair comb, once an everyday object turned into a lasting symbol.

What does Duafe mean?

Duafe takes its shape directly from the wooden combs traditionally used by Akan women. In everyday life, a comb is a tool for care, patience, and attention to detail, qualities that were then carried into the symbol's deeper meaning. Duafe has come to represent the ideal feminine virtues admired across Akan culture: love, care, patience, hygiene, and beauty.

The meaning behind the symbol

Duafe is often given as a gift from a man to a woman he admires, a way of acknowledging her care, patience, and inner beauty. It celebrates the quiet, daily acts of care that hold families and communities together, not beauty as appearance alone, but beauty as a way of showing up for others.

Duafe and CASA London

Duafe sits alongside symbols like Akoma and Sankofa in the wider language of Adinkra jewellery that inspires CASA London's collections. Explore our Gifts For Her edit for pieces that carry this same spirit of thoughtfulness and care.

Frequently asked questions

What does Duafe mean?

Duafe means "wooden comb" and is the Adinkra symbol representing feminine qualities such as love, care, patience, hygiene, and beauty.

Why is a comb used as a symbol in Akan culture?

The wooden comb represents the care and patience needed for grooming, qualities that were extended symbolically to represent broader feminine virtues valued in Akan culture.

Is Duafe a gift symbol?

Yes. Duafe is traditionally given as a gift to acknowledge and honour a woman's care, patience, and inner beauty.

What other Adinkra symbols are related to Duafe?

Duafe is often mentioned alongside Akoma and Sankofa, other Adinkra symbols representing love, patience, and cultural memory.