Female Figure: Akua ba
Artist: Akan people, Asante subgroup
Date: Late 19th - early 20th century
Dimensions:
H. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm); W. of head 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm).
Medium: Wood, beads, glass, string and metal wire.
Place of Origin: Ghana
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1989.110
Label Text:An akua ba figure is a symbol of an Akan mother’s hope for a child. It assists a woman to conceive and provides added protection during pregnancy. A woman treats her akua ba as if it were an actual infant, carrying it with her, feeding and bathing it, and giving it gifts, such as beaded jewelry. Akua bas generally feature a large, flat, round head surmounting a stick-like body with arms but no legs. This more elaborate example may have been a commission from a wealthy patron, such as a diviner or a chief. The high round forehead and symmetrical features uphold Ashanti ideals of beauty and goodness.
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