When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
TitleAkua\'ba Maternity Figure Ghana African Art 19 InchType of ObjectCarvingCountry of OriginGhanaPeopleAsanteMaterialsWood, pigmentApproximate Age20th centuryOther DimensionsHeight: 19 Inches
Width: 6.5 Inches
Overall ConditionFair. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.  Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings. Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.Damage/Repairbroken foot, head, arms broken and repaired
Additional Information:Among the Akan childbearing is an important responsibility of women who are considered to have not fulfilled their purpose on earth unless they have had children and inasmuch as the Akan are a matrilineal society girl babies are preferred. The tradition of how akuaba came to be is based upon the story of a childless woman named Akua who went to her local shrine to consult with the priest of her desire to have a child. The priest advised her to have a small figure carved and to treat it as she would a real child carrying it in a cloth on her back. At first ridiculed, she was in time to deliver a real child, a girl, to the astonishment of her friends who exclaimed to her “Akua, wo ba ni” – “Akua, this is your child”. The child was named Akua or Wednesday born. Since that time barren women among the Akan who wish children will have a figure carved to keep by their side or after the child is born to place the akuaba in a shrine as offering and remembrance. As shrine pieces an akuaba is often painted with white clay to carry messages to the spirits. If kept by women at home akuaba would be dressed with cloth, wear jewelry and have hairstyles carved along the edges of the round head or inscribed on the back of the head. Some akuaba have scars on their faces, not for identification or aesthetics, but so that the spirits will not take them back. Families who have lost a number of children will cut small marks on the cheeks or temples so that the spirits who love beautiful children will be mislead and not return them to the spirit world.
For more information and examples See \"ISN\'T SHE A DOLL--PLAY AND RITUAL IN AFRICAN SCULPTURE,\" by Cameron.)
**105322**
All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006
Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers!
Please visit our About Us page.
Africa Direct, Inc. has been selling on since 1997 and has received more than 51,000 positive responses. It is owned by Eliza and Sara, who began the company after spending a year wandering southern Africa in a camper van with their multi-racial family. They have been honored with \'s Hall of Fame award, and by Giving Works, through which they have raised more than $125,000 in charity sales.
Customer Service: We treasure our many long term customers, and will try to make you one of them! If you have problems, please tell us... we care!
Handling Time: We ship daily except Sundays and holidays. Most orders go out the same day, and all go out within 48 hours.
Returns: We want you to be happy with your purchase. You\'re welcome to return an item within 30 days in the same condition you received it--just let us know you\'re returning it. You may have either a credit or a refund for your purchase price, not including shipping both ways. If your original payment was made through PayPal, we\'ll refund you through PayPal; if you paid us directly with your credit card, we\'ll refund the credit card.
Combining Shipping: You are welcome to wait to pay, and to combine multiple items for shipping. We ask that you keep each order to 10 days or 10 items, whichever comes first--then start another order.
When you\'re ready, just send us a list of item numbers or an invoice request and we\'ll send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal or credit card.
U.S. Shipping: We use a professional shipper who has worked with us for ten years. He and his staff take great care in packing our artwork, much of which is antique, irregularly-shaped, and fragile. The cost of his labor and the special packing materials he uses is reflected in our handling price. Our U.S. shipping charges also include insurance; we self-insure on smaller orders. For these reasons, our shipping and handling charges may be more than the price of postage.
International Shipping: We ship dozens of international orders each week, to customers on every continent except Antarctica! The shipping charges included in our listings are for U.S. orders. Contact us for shipping charges to your country. We offer uninsured USPS First Class airmail, insured Priority airmail, and insured Express airmail to most parts of the world, depending on the weight, volume, and value of an item. We also ship via FedEx or DHL on request.
Import duties, taxes, and charges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer\'s responsibility. Please check with your country\'s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to offerding / buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up -- do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. And please do not ask us to mark merchandise values below the actual value or mark items as \"gifts\"--U.S. and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.
Newsletter, previews and special offers: Sign up for our newsletter
Go to Africa Direct Store
