Fertility doll, AKUABA, ASHANTI, GHANA, 2nd half 20th century

Fertility doll from the Ashanti, called Aku'aba.

The name Akua Ba comes from the Akan legend of a woman named Akua who was barren, but like all Akan women, she mainly wanted to have children. She consulted a priest who instructed her to have a small wooden child carved and carry the surrogate child on her back as if it were real. Akua cared for the figure as she would a live baby, even giving him beads and other trinkets. She was ridiculed and teased by fellow villagers, who started calling the wooden figure Akua ba, or 'Akua's child'. And this immediately describes the primary function... namely a fertility doll that could be blessed by a priest. This one also has traces of red-brown powder, tukula, which is used to "charge" an object, giving it its effect. Chains with tiny beads are attached to the top. There is also a chain around the neck.

Although a beautiful example, it seems to me that it was made "for us". The statue is in good condition and has a warm appearance.

Length: 39 cm
Weight: 209 grams
Origin: Ghana
Dating: 2nd half of the 20th century