Akuaba fertility doll - Ashanti - Ghana

The Akuaba (or Akua’ba) dolls are wooden figurines from the Ashanti people of Ghana. Traditionally carved by local artisans, they play a central role in rites related to fertility and motherhood. Their stylized form, often characterized by a long neck, a round head and simplified features, reflects an aesthetic that is both austere and symbolic.

Made from light woods such as wawa or sese, these dolls are then polished and sometimes coated with natural pigments to give them a smooth, glossy patina. Their size typically ranges between 20 and 50 centimeters, and they are often carried on the back by women who wish to conceive a child or ensure the health of their pregnancy.

In Ashanti culture, the Akuaba is much more than a mere object: it embodies the hope of descendants and the protection of ancestral spirits. Sterile or pregnant women treat it with care, giving it care and prayers, in the hope that its spiritual energy fosters the arrival of a child.

Today, these dolls are also valued for their artistic and cultural significance, and they appear in tribal art collections around the world. Their apparent simplicity hides a deep meaning, making them silent witnesses to Ashanti traditions and beliefs.

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