Akua’ba Fertility Figure - Ashanti People, Ghana - 4034

Purchased in 1965 by Charles H. Cutter in Ghana.
Charles Cutter, was a postdoctoral fellow from the University of California, San Diego, and a lecturer in Afro-American literature at Yale University.
He also wrote the book Africa 2006, which was part of the world today series.

The Akua'ba wooden doll expresses the Ashanti ideal of beauty; a long neck and a round flat face with a high forehead and small mouth. The fertility doll is carried in a woman's skirt band to ensure fertility as well as to have a perfect and beautiful child. The word "Akua" means born of Wednesday and "Ba" means child. The doll also serves another function and that is for young girls to acquaint themselves with the role of motherhood. Often times,the back of the carving has patterns incised in the head which is believed to ward off evil spirits.

H: 14 1/2” x W: 5 1/4” x D: 1 3/4”