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Pleasing Asante Akua’ba Doll 14″ – Ghana

$70.00

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SKU: 1000739 Categories: ,
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Akua-ba dolls are known as “child of Akua”. Akua was a barren woman who sought the help of a priest so that she can have a family of her own. He instructed her to carry a wooden doll on her back and treat it as if it were a living child. One day, Akua was able to give birth to a baby girl and the carrying of an Akua’ba doll became common practice. Even pregnant women would carry the dolls to ensure a healthy pregnancy and child.

 

Type of Object

Figure

Country of Origin

Ghana

Ethnicity

Asante

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height

14"

Width

5"

Depth

2"

Weight

2.5lbs

Overall Condition

Possible minor imperfections and wear & tear, including but not limited to scuffing, cracking and minimal chipping. Possible previous repairs. See photos or inquire for more details.

Tribe Information

About the Asante People

“When they arrived on the coast of Ghana in 1471, Portuguese sailors were astonished by the highly structured kingdoms they encountered. This initial contact, along with the area’s reputation for being wealthy, encouraged Westerners to settle in the region and to trade bronze and European-manufactured objects for Ghanaian gold and slaves.”
“The first area, which lies along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, is a flat plain covered with shrubs occasionally interrupted by lagoons. It is divided into numerous kingdoms of which the most well known are the Fante and the Ewe. The second area includes the central part of the country. It is a forest area where the most renowned tribes is undoubtedly the Asante (also known as the Ashanti). The Asante tribe, as well as other people living in central and south Ghana, speak the Twi language and collectively form the Akan people. The third area, in northern Ghana, is covered by the savannah and is the habitat of Gur-speaking people whose traditions and religions are still poorly understood.”

Sources:

Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.