Vintage Akuaba Ashanti Fertility Doll

Akuaba Ashanti Fertility Doll with custom metal stand. The doll is hand carved of wood and has a fine patina. It stands 13 inches tall and is in very good condition. Akuaba are wooden ritual fertility dolls from Ghana and nearby areas. The best known akuaba are those of the Ashanti people, whose akuaba have large, disc-like heads. Other tribes in the region (f.ex. Lobi people ) have their own distinctive style of akuaba. By tradition, these dolls are carried on the back of women either hoping to conceive a child, or to ensure the attractiveness of the child being carried. When not in active use, the akuaba would be ritually washed and cared for. Although most are now produced as art objects, some tribes continue the old tradition. Modern pieces are kept as good luck charms.