AKAN WOOD CARVINGS AKAN CULTURAL SYMBOLS PROJECT WOOD CARVINGS ADWA-STOOL POMA-STAFF FURNITURE AND CARVED DOOR DOLLS/COMBS UMBRELLA FINIALS
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A WOOD CARVER
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The wood carving industry of the Akan of Ghana is an indigenous craft
tradition that remains vigorous in a world of rapid change. Wood carving
has retained its economic and cultural importance for hundreds of years. Wood is one of
the most important materials Akan use in their arts to express their
thoughts. Wood is used to carve various items for household use as well as
for ceremonial uses. Among the household items that are carved from wood are adwa
(stool), akuaba
(doll), dua
afe (comb), poma (staff) to be used by okyeame
(spokesperson or linguist) for either the abusua (family) or
ohene (King).
Other products of Akan wood carvers include containers and boxes, and wood
sculpture. Wood carvings have symbolic, aesthetic and ceremonial values.
Symbolic uses of wood carvings by the Akan are seen in the
political organization from the basic unit of the abusua
(family) through the kuro (town) to the oman
(state) level. Stools, for example, are used as symbols of power and
authority at these levels of government. At these levels of political organization, the stool, the staffs and
umbrella tops are manipulated to promote group identity and cohesion, national
integration, and to express legitimacy of authority.
Dua afe - Wooden Comb Akuaba - Doll
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| Men also use canes (walking sticks) that are carved to incorporate several expressive symbols to communicate one's status and beliefs. In the picture below the staff on the left incorporates the adwa (stool), tikoro mmpam (one head does not constitute a council, tumi te se kosua (power is as fragile as an egg), owo akoforo adobe (the snake climbs a palm tree), and the nyansa po (wisdom knot) symbols.
SAMPLES OF AKAN WOOD CARVINGS
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| ABUSUA NE
AKYEAME POMA FAMILY AND LINGUISTS' STAFFS ABUSUA POMA
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ABUSUA NE AKYEAME POMA - FAMILY AND LINGUISTS' STAFFS The okyeame and abusua poma (linguist's and family staffs) are used for political and judicial purposes. In the king's court, for example, the linguist will carry the poma to express profound messages relating to justice, peace, conflict resolution, and arbitration. The linguist will also carry a staff on diplomatic missions for the chief. In such instance the symbol on the staff will encode the message being carried by the emissary. OKYEAME POMA
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| KYINIIE
NTUATIRE - UMBRELLA FINIAL
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KYINIIE NTUATIRE - UMBRELLA FINIAL The umbrella finial (kyiniie ntuatire) forms an integral part of the umbrella in communicating expressive messages about the chief to the public. The finial is carved out of wood and some are covered with gold leaf. The finial encodes aphorisms or proverbs the meanings of which is related to leadership. |
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NKONNUA - STOOLS AND CHAIRS
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NKONNUA - STOOLS AND CHAIRS The stool is believed by the Akan to inhabit the soul of the nation, that is, it marks continuities across generations and groups. It also marks close solidarities between the living and the dead. Through the stool, the reigning king serves as a link between the living, the dead and the yet-to-be-born members of the society. The king, therefore, has the responsibility to preserve the stool for posterity. Asipim Chair
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APONNO - DOORS
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APONNO - DOORS
Doors made of wood incorporate various symbols. For example, the double door to the Chamber of the Old Parliament House in Accra was designed by Kofi Antubam to incorporate several symbols. The picture on the left shows the door to the Conference Room at the Ministry of Communications, Accra. It encodes communicative symbols like the talking drum and the abentia (horn).
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DUA AFE - WOODEN COMB |
DUA AFE - WOODEN COMB
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AKAN WOOD SCULPTURES, |
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SCULPTURES, MASKS, AND WALL HANGINGS
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Masks are more associated with the Akan west of present-day Ghana. The Baule are one of the Akan peoples that use masks in public performances. They moved west to the Ivory Coast more than 200 years ago and adpted masking traditions from their neighbors, the Guro, Senufo and Yaure peoples. There are three basic types used in a special dance of rejoicing called Goli, symbolizing the social order. Most of these masks are Kpan, with elaborate coiffures and refined carving, and represent the Senior female in the ceremonies. Another mask, Kplekple, shown in the lower right, represents the junior male. It is round and flat and is among the most abstract of traditional African masks. A third type, a Goli Gulin, represents the Senior male.
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| SAMPLES OF MASKS CARVED BY ABURI CARVERS | |||
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WOOD CARVINGS ADWA-STOOL POMA-STAFF FURNITURE AND CARVED DOOR DOLLS/COMBS UMBRELLA FINIALS
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Wood is also used to carve drums and other household items, but
these will not be discussed in this project. 
A jewel box with
the 
Akan wood carvers also specialize in masks, murals and other pieces
of work that can be hung on the wall. The Akan masks are dramatic
portraits of spirit beings, departed ancestors, and invisible powers of
social control. 
At Aburi, in the
Eastern Region of Ghana, are a group of carvers that have a wide range
of specialization in wood carving. The masks they produce at Aburi are
more geared towards the tourist trade. Here, in this section, are few
samples of their works 