Wakemia Spoon - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire

The wakemia spoons (or wunkirmian) are ceremonial spoons carved by the Dan, a people of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. Made of wood, they often bear the stylized head of a Dan figure, a sign of anthropomorphism that recalls the masks and statues of the same culture.

Their function is not utilitarian: they are offered to women recognized for their generosity at major community feasts, thus becoming symbols of prestige and sharing.

During these ceremonies, the holder brandishes the spoon while dancing, symbolizing her role as the village nurse and reinforcing social bonds around the ritual meal. These objects testify to the importance accorded to hospitality and solidarity in Dan society.

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