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. Akua'maa are carved
wooden figures that are believed to induce pregnancy and ensure safe
delivery at birth.
priest giving the fertility deity conducts the rites, afterwards the
women carries the doll and treats it like a real child, dressing it up,
adorning it with jewelry and putting it to bed. After the mother gives
birth to a daughter, she may give the doll to her to play with (this
type of gift teaches child care)
one closely observe the structure of a fertility doll you will notice a
distinct similarity to the Ankh, an ancient Egyptian or Kamitic symbol
of life. It has a huge round head and body, and it is shaped like a
cross. The head is symbolic of the feminine womb. The shape is a
reminder of the active, yet passive manifestations of the womb, which
are receptive and gestation. The female egg receives the male sperm,
thus gestation occurs: but can only happen during the ovulation point in
the woman's cycle. This is why the womb is considered receptive, it is a
receiver and receptacle.
body of the fertility doll is shaped like a cross, and is similar
to the lower part of the ankh. This lower section is similar to a
Kamitic symbol known as the Djed, which according to legend is the
backbone of the God Ausar (Osins). In the spiritual teachings of ancient
Egypt. Ausar possesses great power because his emotions and thoughts are
stable and unwavering. The Djed symbol, being Ausar's spinal energy, but
needs an antenna to receive spinal energy. This column conducts both
parts of the Akwoba figure and are important.
The Akau'maa illustrate the Ashanti
concept of beauty: a high oval forehead that in reality is achieved by
massaging an infant's soft skull; a small mouth: and a neck ringed to
depict creases caused by fat, indicating a healthy diet.
What makes the fertility doll so
special is it's reason for being created. African ancestors made symbols
out of everything. This brings us to Hieroglyphics and the reason why
they are so intriguing.
In the past people would not get caught
up in language barriers, as symbols served the same meaning for all
nations and therefore the Fertility doll is one of those symbols that
stood the test of time. For as long as human history has
existed, fertility dolls or symbols have been revered . Long before we
knew how babies were made, how crops grew, we knew that our existence
depended on renewal of fertility.