TERA Gallery - African Art and Antiquities "Altering The Way You View The World Of Art" |
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- "Akuaba" Feterility Figure
- Akuaba (akua'ba) figures or fertility dolls educate young
girls about the lessons of motherhood. An akuaba figure can
bring fertility to a woman hoping to have a child. It can also
help to ensure a safe delivery and a physically beautiful
child. The form of the figure illustrates the Asante ideal of
beauty placing emphasis on the head--the place that evokes
the greatest beauty. For the Asante, it is believed that the
shape of the head should be a perfect circle. Facial features
are usually set low in the face, causing the forehead to
appear larger, which is another trait associated with beauty.
To further accentuate the head, the torso is a simple column
with plain outstretched arms and no legs. Additional
characteristics of the akuaba figure are: narrow nose,
stylized eyebrows, small mouth, and signs of scarification.
- Most of these figures wear beads around their waist or neck
in a manner similar to the custom of Asante women. Often
the figures will adorn earrings and other accessories.
The name akuaba means "Akua's child." The title derives
from a story about a barren woman named Akua. Desiring a
child, Akua followed the instructions of the tribal priest and
carried a small wooden figure on her back caring for it as if
it were a living child. She eventually conceived and gave
birth to a beautiful child. The akuaba figure is believed to
possess powers associated with fertility and beauty and are
highly regarded in African society. African women usually
attend to these figures with great care; carrying akuaba
figures on the back, feeding, washing, and adoring the
wooden figure. Akua's first child, a girl, refers to the
matrilineal nature of Akan society and as such, akuaba
figures in wood are almost always female forms.
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- Wood
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