Dr Richard Kotei revives Ga Symbolism with new ‘Samai’ designs
Just as the Akan people have their famous Adinkra symbols, the Ga people also possess a rich symbolic tradition known as Ga Samai. While the symbols have existed for generations, one man is expanding the collection and giving it fresh expression — Dr Richard Afutu Kotei, son of the late Amon Kotei, the designer of Ghana’s Coat of Arms.
Does the name Kotei ring a bell? It should. Art, it appears, runs deep in the family’s veins.
In an interview with The Mirror, Dr Kotei explained the inspiration behind his growing collection of symbols.
“The classic existing Ga Samai and the new ones that I have created are collections of original artistic expressions of proverbs, wisdom sayings and colourful word statements of the GaDangme people, put together in communicative graphic forms,” he said.
According to him, the Ga Samai are visual representations of ideas that would otherwise remain obscure or abstract.
“Good visualisation affords easy understanding and promotes appropriate usage, and the Ga Samai thus gives access to a volume of information and knowledge about the rich culture of the GaDangme people. In effect, they are Ga wisdom statements presented as lively or dynamic symbols,” he explained.
Driven by passion and purpose
Dr Kotei says his motivation for creating new symbols is deeply rooted in personal conviction and cultural pride.
“I have always had a great passion for all Ghanaian cultures and traditions, especially those of the GaDangme ethnic group I belong to. Our language, music, dances, food, moral upbringing and spiritual belief systems all help to shape the personality, the inward spirit and the perceptions of every GaDangme person, including me,” he said.
Despite the historical presence of Ga Samai, Dr Kotei believes they have remained largely invisible in national cultural discourse—even during Ga cultural celebrations.
“The elimination of this artificial vacuum and the need to have Ga and Dangme culture well-presented and appreciated on both the local and international scenes, are some of the triggering factors that instigated and guided me to do my part in rectifying the situation,” he explained.
“And having been blessed with the gifts of art – drawing, painting, photography and other skills in that field, almost all of which were nurtured in me by my father,
Mr Amon Kotei – I knew it was my spiritual responsibility to rise to the challenge of helping to unfurl GaDangme art and culture to the world at large. And I am glad I have done – and will keep doing – the best I can. God will always be our helper.”
Origins of Ga Samai
While it is difficult to pinpoint precisely when the Ga Samai emerged, Dr Kotei suggests that their origins may stretch as far back as ancient Egypt, aligning with historical claims that the GaDangme people trace their ancestry to that region.
He adds that traditional canoe art may also provide clues to the origins and evolution of these symbols.
“The artistic inscriptions that feature on many of the canoes of our fisherfolk, which they use for both identification and communication, might also help trace the history and the origins of the Ga Samai.”
He believes old and new Ga Samai are rooted in cultural expressions that have endured.
“Like the new ones that I have created, the old and classic existing Ga Samai can incontestably be said to have been inspired by, or sprung up from, Ga proverbs, wisdom language expressions, folkloric songs and stories which have been with us for centuries.”
Life of Science and Art
Dr Kotei is the fifth of 12 children born to the late Amon Kotei and Sarah Adoley Addo, natives of La in Accra. After attending the Labone Secondary School, he pursued further education in England and later in the United States of America.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (with a minor in Chemistry) from the First Boston State College (now part of the University of Massachusetts), followed by a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Northeastern University in Boston. He later obtained a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Dr Kotei spent over 30 years as a clinical pharmacist at a major teaching hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, before entering semi-retirement in 2020.
Despite his scientific career, his passion for the arts never faded. Like his father, he deeply loves drawing, painting, and photography and has held art exhibitions in the USA.
Now, through the revival and expansion of Ga Samai, Dr Kotei is not only honouring his heritage but also inspiring a new generation to rediscover and celebrate the depth and beauty of GaDangme culture.
Writer's email: hadiza.quansah@gmail.com
