Ghana · Wood / Hardstone Carving
Akuaba (fertility doll, plural akuamma); the ceremonial stool has no single standardized English-transliterated name distinct from general reference as an Ashanti stool
The single-block carving of two related but distinct Ashanti ceremonial wood forms: royal and family stools, symbols of status and carved records of maternal genealogy featuring a curved seat representing a mother's embrace and a central section bearing symbols of the owner's beliefs, history, or values (frequently an Adinkra symbol); and akuaba fertility dolls, small figures with a flat disk-shaped head, high forehead, annulated (ringed) neck, and outstretched arms, traditionally carried by women hoping for or already experiencing pregnancy to symbolically ensure the health and beauty of the coming child. Carving is traditionally performed by men, with akuaba dolls specifically requiring the carver to first visit the source tree and formally request the tree spirits' permission before harvesting the wood. The akuaba's specific form traces to a named origin legend: a woman named Akua, mocked by her community for carrying a wooden child on her back, was later vindicated when she gave birth to a healthy daughter, after which the practice of carrying akuaba dolls for fertility became widely adopted across Ashanti society.
Risk level: Vulnerable · Not independently inscribed
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