Decorative motifs are a way to write messages of tradition and culture onto objects. Some of the main symbols come in the form of:
Colors
White
- the color of bones; associated with death, ancestors, spiritual
forces and is important in medical contexts
Black - the color of night;
suggests the relationship between the living and the dead and suffering
Red
- the color of blood; symbolizes life, women, and kingship in general
Blue - spirituality and wealth
Animal Motifs
Elephant
- Wealth and power
Buffalo - power, strenth, energy
Spider - hard working, patience
Leopard - power
Turtle - wisdom and prudence
Lizard - messenger of death
Cameleon - messenger of life
Butterfly - messenger of good news
the four cardinal points
spider
frog, symbol of fertility and reproduction
crocodile, women
turtle, wisdom and patience
ancestors and thier decendants
social classes
