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Ghana Fertility Figure (Akua'ba)

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/9f1014c0-0d92-0135-23f6-0050569601ca-a
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Descriptive Information

Title
Ghana Fertility Figure (Akua'ba)
Description
  • the cheeks are carved with shallow marks representing scarification. An elongated neck is carved to represent wide metal neck rings. The figure's breasts and belly button are indicated. Strings of tiny beads hang from a hole in the end of each arm and are wrapped around the body.
  • Carved wooden female figure is an abstraction, with a disproportionally large head. The cylindrical body stands on a short base and the tapering arms extend straight out from the body. The head is a nearly flattened oval, with squinting eyes and pursed mouth in low relief and a triangular nose in deeper relief
Interpretation
Young pregnant women and women hoping to become pregnant carried this type of doll (akua'ba) to ensure the birth of a healthy and beautiful baby. The doll's form reflects Asanti ideals of beauty such as a high flattened forehead, small mouth and long, ringed neck. The size of the head in relationship to the rest of the figure reflects the Asanti cultural emphasis on the head and mind. A mother-to-be adorned her doll with jewelry, fed and bathed it, dressed it, carried it around during the day and put it to bed at night just as they would the baby after it was born. The African environment challenges human existence. Disease, drought, famine and both physical and human disasters threaten life. Large families are important both to assist in farming and also to continue to nourish the spirits of the ancestors through sacrificial offerings. As a result, many African objects (and art) are directed towards encouraging the fertility of women.
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • Ghana Artifacts  
  • African Novel Study  
  • African Folk Tales  
Learning Standards
  • 25-27 Fine Arts  
  • 18 Social Systems  
  • 16 History  
Author or Creator
Ashanti (African people) Social life and customs  
Source
Donated to the Lakeview Museum by Richard K. Meyer.  
Subject / Keywords
  • Asanti culture  
  • Dolls  
  • Sculptures  
  • Africa  
  • Ghana  
Spatial Coverage
Ghana  
Temporal Coverage
1850/1900
Collection Publisher
Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences
Rights
Copyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier
LVM1974.010.007
Date Created
6-12-02
Collection Title
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
Collection
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
TitleGhana Fertility Figure (Akua'ba)
Description
  • the cheeks are carved with shallow marks representing scarification. An elongated neck is carved to represent wide metal neck rings. The figure's breasts and belly button are indicated. Strings of tiny beads hang from a hole in the end of each arm and are wrapped around the body.
  • Carved wooden female figure is an abstraction, with a disproportionally large head. The cylindrical body stands on a short base and the tapering arms extend straight out from the body. The head is a nearly flattened oval, with squinting eyes and pursed mouth in low relief and a triangular nose in deeper relief
InterpretationYoung pregnant women and women hoping to become pregnant carried this type of doll (akua'ba) to ensure the birth of a healthy and beautiful baby. The doll's form reflects Asanti ideals of beauty such as a high flattened forehead, small mouth and long, ringed neck. The size of the head in relationship to the rest of the figure reflects the Asanti cultural emphasis on the head and mind. A mother-to-be adorned her doll with jewelry, fed and bathed it, dressed it, carried it around during the day and put it to bed at night just as they would the baby after it was born. The African environment challenges human existence. Disease, drought, famine and both physical and human disasters threaten life. Large families are important both to assist in farming and also to continue to nourish the spirits of the ancestors through sacrificial offerings. As a result, many African objects (and art) are directed towards encouraging the fertility of women.
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • Ghana Artifacts  
  • African Novel Study  
  • African Folk Tales  
Learning Standards
  • 25-27 Fine Arts  
  • 18 Social Systems  
  • 16 History  
Author or CreatorAshanti (African people) Social life and customs  
SourceDonated to the Lakeview Museum by Richard K. Meyer.  
Subject / Keywords
  • Asanti culture  
  • Dolls  
  • Sculptures  
  • Africa  
  • Ghana  
Spatial CoverageGhana  
Temporal Coverage1850/1900
Collection PublisherLakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences
RightsCopyright Not Evaluated
Resource IdentifierLVM1974.010.007
Date Created6-12-02
Collection TitleTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
CollectionTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)

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