Fante Akua'ba Fertility statue from Ghana -1960-70

Beautiful Fante Akua'ba Fertility Figure, Ghana

This fine, dark-colored wooden figurine is an Akua'ba (Akua's child), a traditional fertility figure of the Fante (an Akan people in Ghana), similar to the more well-known Ashanti variant. The Akua'ba figurine symbolizes the Akan ideal of beauty and fertility, featuring characteristics such as the disk-shaped head (symbolizing wisdom), the ringed neck (wealth), and detailed facial features.

Use and Rituals:

In the past, women who were infertile or desired a healthy, beautiful child would carry the Akua'ba figurine on their backs (tied in their cloth), as if it were their own child. They adorned it with beads, as seen around the neck and hip/foot, in the hope that the spiritual power of the figurine would aid in conception and a successful pregnancy. The figurine functioned as a surrogate for a future child.

Age & Function:

While the tradition is centuries old, most surviving Akua'ba date from the 19th or 20th century. The full, cylindrical torso and the use of beads often indicate a Fante or more recent style. Although the original function was ritual, this collector's item, placed on a modern metal base, now serves as African Art and cultural heritage; Trade Art.

Specifications:

• Length: 26 cm

• Weight (including black metal base): 278 grams

• Origin: Ghana

• Dating: 1960-70

• Provenance: Obtained from a Flemish private collection