Akua'ba, Ghana, Late 19th Century
Female Figurine.
The life story of Akua'ba
Akua’ba illustrates fertility and motherhood in Akanland, located in Ghana. According to the Akan legends, Akua’ba was coined from a mythical female legend named Akua. Akua suffered infertility, but as typical of every Akan woman, Akua craved to have her children. She sought help from a priest who told her to create a figurine of a small feminine image. The figurine must be made from wood. Akua should then carry the wooden image on her back like an actual child. Akua did as she was told and even looked after the figurine as if it were a real baby. She sometimes gifted the image with gifts such as trinkets and beads. Finding this action strange in their community, the village people around mocked her and called her figurine “Akua’ba”, which means “Akua’s child.” After Akua’s perseverance, she was blessed with a real girl child. Everyone was shocked to see the miracle. [1]
From then on, Akua set the pace for the adoption of Akua’ba figurines in the community among barren women and those seeking the fruits of the womb. The priests would bless the figurines and return them to the barren women, who must in turn care for the image as Akua did to hers. When their prayers were answered and they begot living children, they would take their Akua’bas to the priests as signs of gratitude to the gods.
From the Sainsbury Center Web Site
The author remixed this model.
Sculpting after gritty UV displacement.
Mesh fixes