Sankofa V2 · Proverb Cartouche Tee

from £26.90

The full proverb, carried in a cartouche, not a logo. Inside a double gold rule: SE WO WERE FI NA WOSANKOFA A YENKYI in ivory capitals, and beneath it in terracotta, IT IS NOT TABOO TO GO BACK AND FETCH WHAT YOU FORGOT. Below the cartouche, one word in large gold serif capitals: SANKOFA.

Choose your size

Size guide

Between two sizes, take the larger one: the cut is meant to fall loose. Measurements are on the chest, flat, in centimetres then inches.

Size	Half chest	Body length
S	49.5	69
M	53.5	73
L	56.5	75
XL	59.5	77
2XL	63.5	79
3XL	67.5	81

Size

Clear

Where it is made United Kingdom and Europe: printed by Gelato, in the facility closest to your address.
United States: printed by Printify, with certified partners on American soil.

Delivery Delivery in 5 to 10 working days in the United Kingdom and Europe, 7 to 12 in the United States, 10 to 20 elsewhere. Two to four days of that are the making, because nothing is stocked.

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The story of the design

What it means

Sankofa is an Akan (Twi) proverb from Ghana: « Sɛ wo werɛ firi na wosan kɔfa a, yɛnkyiri », rendered on this tee in its widely attested ASCII form. It teaches that going back for what was forgotten, a language, a name, a history, is not a taboo but a wisdom. There is deliberately no bird symbol on this piece: the proverb itself is the emblem, written out in full the way it is spoken. Sources: adinkrasymbols.org; Kwabena Opoku-Agyemang, University of Ghana (hyperrhiz.io).

Part of the Essentials collection by Bana Bilaka: evergreen pieces, worn statements.

Fabric & Fit

Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0, 100% organic combed ring-spun cotton (GOTS-certified fabric), 180 gsm single jersey, fabric washed. Colour: Black. Medium unisex fit, true to size.

Unisex fit: for a fitted women's look, size down one.