Official Image Of Wadadli

The debate over the meaning and origin of the word "Wadadli" is over now that the truth is revealed. If there's any lingering doubts about the facts, the graphic on this page should clarify them if you look closely.

The graphic clearly distinguishes Wadadli from Antigua. It's the official symbol of the Wadadli Experience Band, created using a map of Antigua vertically positioned and artistically embellished with the eye, ear, and mouth to represent the head of the Wadadli man with natty dreadlocks and a beard.

The idea and first illustration of the concept were revealed to the Wadadli group by Ras Jahbozi and Brother Butch of the One love tribe. The original drawing included a clean example of Barbuda similarly adorned to depict the female companion of the Wadadli man, but it was never published online.

After the Wadadli group became Wadadli Experience Enterprise Limited in 1976, the graphic became the official symbol, trademark, and logo of Wadadli. It was recreated on a larger map in 1978 by Kumasi and used as part of the cover for the band's first album, Wadadli Came From Afar.

It was resized and moved to the back with a description of its relation to the group. WADADLI was culturally recognized and accepted as a reinterpretation or a refined definition of the word WA-LAD-LI.

The word Wadadli means "Those Who Came From Afar," and that's the end of the story for now. A detailed book about the history of Wadadli will be published later this year, so stay tuned.