sankofa bird

noun

In Akan culture, a symbol representing a bird with head turned backwards and feet facing forward, carrying a precious egg in its mouth. It is associated with a proverb stating that it is not wrong to go back for something one has forgotten.

Meanings

nounsankofa bird (plural sankofa birds)

plural sankofa birds

  1. In Akan culture, a symbol representing a bird with head turned backwards and feet facing forward, carrying a precious egg in its mouth. It is associated with a proverb stating that it is not wrong to go back for something one has forgotten.
Cite this entry
APA

sankofa bird. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sankofa%20bird

MLA

“sankofa bird.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sankofa%20bird. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sankofa bird,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sankofa%20bird.

Source: sankofa bird on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.