Fertility doll

Arguably the best known and most distinctive wood sculpture from Ghana is the akua’ba (plural akua’mma) fertility doll. It was used by the Akan peoples including the Asante who produce the classic form of these dolls. Characteristics include a large circular face, small features, stubby arms and tubular body designed to be held in the hand or easily carried on the back. Most dolls also have a ringed neck which indicates beauty and prosperity.

These dolls get their name from a legendary woman named Akua who was very unhappy because she seemed unable to bear children. Akua consulted a priest who advised her to ask a carver to produce for her a small model of a child and to nurse it and carry it on her back as if the carving was real. The wooden figure became known as Akuaba (Akua’s child). Although her friends laughed at her at first, within a short time she became pregnant and in due course gave birth to a baby girl.

From then on akua'mma dolls were habitually carried by women who fear infertility. In Akan society it is very important for women to be successful in having children. In fact, even pregnant women commission an akua’ba to make sure that their child is safely delivered and grows up strong and healthy. Sometimes fathers buy or make these dolls for their daughters to play with, believing that this will influence child-bearing in adult life. Infertility, miscarriage and infant death are feared by women as they raise suspicions of witchcraft. A woman who has many children who survive is highly regarded and plays a role in girls' initiation rites. Among the Asante the line of descent passes through the female, so women are expected to bear female children to continue this line.