What is Sankofa in relation to counselling?
Sankofa is a word in the Twi language of Ghana that translates to "Go back and get it." One symbol often used to represent Sankofa is the image of a bird with its head turned backwards while its feet face forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth.
Sankofa is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates as: "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten."
It is said that the Sankofa bird can only move forward while its head is turned back. This is also true of our healing journey, where in order for healing to occur we need to recapture our past so that we may create our future. It is through this process that we are able to let go of the unhealthy aspects of our past and move forward with strength to a place of healing.