ewe male figure wood sculpture african artefact - venovi/venavi

WOOD & BLACK PIGMENT

SIZE : 23CM(H) X 10CM x 7CM

ON WOODEN PAINTED BASE

BASE SIZE : 20CM X 20CM X 3,5CM

TOTAL HEIGHT INCL BASE 26,5CM

The Ewe people, who live in southern Togo and Ghana are the eastern neighbors of Asante, make small wooden statues with figurative motifs and symbols. These Aklama statues, roughly carved out of wood represent the protective spirits and are kept by the Ewe in their local shrines. Mainly the Ewe are known by their dolls. Some scholars believe that they were used only as fertility dolls, other consider them toys. The women keep these dolls under their mattresses to ensure fertility. Dolls with broken arms or legs were considered by the Ewe as more powerful. They ensured that children would be born healthy, with their arms and legs intact. Like the Yoruba people in Nigeria, they carve ibeji twins figurines, for protection of survivor after death of a twin.