We fragment easily. Different political views, and we cut ties. Divergent approaches to shared goals, and we divide into factions. We insist our way is the only way forward, forgetting that multiple paths can lead to the same destination. We have come to believe that unity requires uniformity and that cooperation demands total agreement. We've lost sight of the possibility that we might move together precisely because we think differently.
The Adinkra symbol Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu depicts two crocodiles: separate heads fighting over food, yet joined by a single stomach. The proverb states: "Funtumfrafu denkyemfrafu, wowo yafunu koro nanso wonya biribi a wofom..." meaning "They share a stomach, yet they strive over food because the sweetness is felt as it passes through the throat."
Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu: Unity in Diversity is an exploration of what it means to work together despite difference. It is a reminder that a shared destiny does not eliminate individual perspective, and that true strength lies in the capacity to cooperate across disagreement.
The Wisdom of the Conjoined Crocodiles
This symbol addresses a profound reality: individual ambition and shared destiny often coexist uncomfortably. The crocodiles want to experience the "sweetness" themselves, not simply know that both will eventually be nourished. This tension is natural.
In Akan philosophy, this symbol serves as both a reminder and a warning. It does not call for forced harmony. Instead, it demands recognition: that our fates are bound whether we acknowledge it or not. Working across difference is not just a moral choice; it is a practical necessity.
The Dual Reality
Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu carries instruction for navigating collective life:
- Acknowledge Interdependence: You share a stomach. In families, communities, and nations, what nourishes one ultimately nourishes all. Fighting over resources that benefit the whole is a waste of energy. Recognition of this shared destiny must precede cooperation.
- Accept the Tension of Diversity: The crocodiles have separate heads for a reason. Different perspectives and experiences are not problems to eliminate but realities to accommodate. The question is not whether you will disagree, but whether you can continue working together despite that disagreement.
Held by Community
At Deka, we believe community sustains us through our differences, not despite them. Strength comes from diverse voices working toward a shared purpose.
Community through this lens means:
- Recognizing shared destiny: Understanding that what affects one member ultimately affects all
- Tolerating diverse perspectives: Making space for disagreement without fracturing the bond
- Working across difference: Cooperating toward common goals even when approaches vary
- Valuing multiple voices: Seeing diversity as strength rather than obstacle
- Maintaining connection: Choosing to stay bound together when tension arises
Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu teaches that community is not about everyone thinking alike. It's about recognizing that you share one stomach and choosing to work together even when perspectives differ.
The Lesson for Today
Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu offers profound wisdom: unity does not require agreement.
When you wear or display this symbol, you are acknowledging that cooperation can exist alongside conflict. You are affirming that diverse perspectives strengthen rather than weaken collective work. The symbol neither promises harmony nor dismisses tension. Instead, it positions diversity as reality and cooperation as necessity, recognizing that fighting over food that benefits everyone equally only prevents the whole from thriving.
Closing Thought
As you move through your week, notice the places where you encounter difference in your family, your workplace, or your community. Do you demand uniformity as the price of unity? Or can you recognize the "shared stomach," the common destiny that binds you to others even when you disagree?
Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu invites you to examine your approach to collective life. What would change if you truly understood that you share a stomach with those you disagree with?
Can you work across difference toward a shared purpose, recognizing that what nourishes one ultimately nourishes us all?
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