Ghanaian Asante People Fertility Charm: "Akua'ba"

This figure is a fertility charm, Akua'ba, used by the Asante people of Ghana.

An akua'ba is a carved wooden figure that is believed to induce pregnancy and ensure safe delivery at birth. According to African legend, the bearer of a fertility doll will give birth to a beautiful child 24 inches tall.

In Ghana and in most parts of Africa, fertility dolls represent youth and fertility. The Akua'ba illustrates the Asante concept of beauty: a high oval forehead; a small mouth: and a neck ringed to depict creases caused by fat, indicating a healthy diet.

The name akua'ba comes from the Akan legend of a woman named Akua who was barren, but like all Akan women, she desired most of all to bear children. She consulted a priest who instructed her to commission the carving of a small wooden child and to carry the surrogate child on her back as if it were real. Akua cared for the figure as she would a living baby, even giving it gifts of beads and other trinkets. She was laughed at and teased by fellow villagers, who began to call the wooden figure Akua'ba, or "child of Akua". When she finally conceived a beautiful baby girl, other villagers began adopting her practices.

Source:
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/312279