DOLA Bird B&W HG

Tribe : Ashanti, Fante
Country of origin : Ghana

The Akuaba derives its name from the legend of Akua, a barren woman desperately wanting a child. After consulting a spiritual leader she was instructed to carry a small wooden carving of a child on her back and to treat it like a real child.

People noticed this behaviour and started calling the wooden doll Akua Ba….Akua’s child.

Soon she fell pregnant and had a beautiful girl. Thereafter this practise was adopted by all barren women.

The most famous style of the Akuaba is from the Ashanti people, with a large disk-shaped head, small mouth, high dome forehead and rolls of fat on the neck representing a beautiful healthy child.

These dolls are still used during birth and fertility dancing ceremonies and are kept for good luck.