$98 · Akua’ba Fertility Figure from Ghana

15" tall, 6" diameter head. Purchased in New York 30 years ago. Among the Akan peoples, women who had trouble becoming pregnant might utilize one of these figures. A carver would create a figure for her and she would carry it on her back, offer it symbolical food and drink, and honor it on a shrine in her home until she conceived a child (ba). The figure could be gifted to another female family member if she, too, sought spiritual help to bear a child. More information here: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-africa/west-africa/ghana/a/akuaba-female-figure-akan-peoples