Ghana's famed Gye Nyame symbol emerges in this design by Joycelyn Sena Zigah its rotating form means, I fear none except God. Known as an adinkra symbol, this image is revered throughout the country. The Ghanaian artisan depicts the West African image on a men's ring, handcrafted of sterling silver.
Product Features:
- Crown: 0.5" L x 0.4" W x 0.2" H
- Band width: 5 mm
- Weight: 0.35 oz
- Color: Silver
- Care Instructions: Clean with a jewelry polishing cloth and occasionally have it polished at local jewelers. Keep in its pouch.
- Metal: .925 Sterling silver
- Finish: High polish
- Metal weight: 10 grams
- Made in Ghana
Story Behind the Art:
A challenge was working in a male-dominated industry. Coming from a very traditional setup, it was tough as a woman to be taken seriously in the trade by my colleagues, who are mostly men. I was born more than five decades ago in the town of Adidome in the Volta region, where my parents lived at that time. In those days, African traditional religion of worshiping at shrines was predominant. When my mother was due to give birth to me, my grandmother believed that the midwife in the town where she lived had some sort of bad energy that caused all the babies she delivered to die mysteriously soon after birth. With this belief in mind, she refused to let my mother deliver me there. So on the day of my birth, they had to travel miles to the hospital in the next town for me to be delivered. It was a very grueling experience for my mother and she has considered me special after that experience. My name, Sena — which my mother appropriately named me — means 'bringing heaven to earth' in the language of the Ewe people of Ghana. The Ewes live mostly in the Volta region of Ghana, east of the Volta River, and we are the second largest tribe of Ghana. I grew up in Hohoe but later left for Koforidua in Eastern of Ghana for my secondary school education, and then attended the university in Kumasi. As an art student, I became interested in industrial arts — specifically, metal work. My mother traded in earrings, necklaces and beads so I naturally followed up. In 1986, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in art, with a major in metal design and fabrication. Immediately afterward, I worked as a jeweler's assistant for my National Service, a scheme designed for new graduates to serve their country for a period of at least one year. I did this for two years and was later employed permanently as a jeweler. Two years after that, I had the opportunity to further my studies at the School of Jewelry in Birmingham, UK. This was a great opportunity to learn more techniques and upgrade my knowledge in my chosen field. After successful completion, I returned to Ghana. I was eager to pass on the knowledge acquired and to help develop the jewelry industry. I chose a public institution where we took in most of the graduates from the metal arts department of the University of Science and Technology. This gave me the opportunity to impart this knowledge and put to use my skills in the industry. I rose to become the head of the jewelry workshop and worked with the company for a total of fifteen years. From there, I was ready to start my very own jewelry workshop. I initially started with a staff of two, which has gradually increased to five permanent staff and five casual workers. I also take in many apprentices and interns from the university, whom I train during vacations.
Please allow 10 business days for the product to leave our warehouse and to receive tracking information. You should expect to receive this item within 15 business days.