Along the west coast of Africa:

More about this region of Africa:

• Burkina Faso - by Bethany World Prayer Center

offers profiles of the people from this region, on each profile page there are also maps of the group's population.

Western Tip of Africa: Guinea- Bidjogo
 

Eiamba need a photo

Eiamba - Bidjogo people, Guniea Large wooden fertility dolls called "Eiamba" carved from forked tree branches which can be carried on a woman's hip just as a young child. They have spread legs and no arms. The heads can be very simple, studded with nails or carved. The necks may be simple and unadorned or have carved necklace rings.

Western Tip of Africa: Liberia: Dan-Ngere
 

Need a photo

Dan Mother of the Society Figure A "mother of the Society" figure - This type of figure is carved to replace or to substitute for an important tribal woman when she was ill or unavailable for important meetings.  The Dan-Ngere were rightfully proud of their carvers. A Dan chief might say to a carver, "Carve me a figure to look like my wife", the figure would be recognizable even if it were carved just from memory.

Western Tip of Africa: Liberia - Loma

Western Tip of Africa: Liberia - Toma (lived in Guinea near the Dan peoples according to William Fagg)
 
 

need a photo

Toma Female Figure A female figure with a mask like face is dressed in a cloth loin cloth, an ankle bracelet and a string of beads.

Burkina Faso
Peoples: Lobi, Mossi

Burkina Faso - Lobi
 

Lobi Bateba Temple Figures carved from a tree fork photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Lobi bateba temple carved couple Elizabeth Bennett states: "Lobi figures - The Lobi people revere spirits known as Thil, and build shrines to them, which are filled with figures like this one. These figures, known as Bateba, are believed to embody the Thil spirits. The Bateba are looked upon as living beings charged with special powers who move, fight against witches, and have intercourse with each other. The Lobi believe that the Bateba are superior to humans, but inferior to the Thil spirits, so the Bateba is first activated by putting it in a Thil shrine. The Bateba keep sorcerers away, and help the Thil ward off misfortune. They also play a role in the divination system. (See AFRICAN MASTERPIECES FROM MUNICH-The Stratlisches Museum fur Volkerkunde.)" This sculpture is was carved from a tree fork taking advantage of the natural form of this tree.

Lobi figure photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Lobi figure photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Mossi dolls / figures called “biiga” are characterized by very angular elements and incised details: such as hair and scarification tattoos. They are adorned with minimal "jewelry" embellishments if at all. Most dolls are wood which has been painted black, but there is a illustration in Cameron's book of a Mossi biiga encased in a tight, laced up, black leather veneer (see the  far left doll in illustration 80)

Parents may buy these as children’s play things and are discarded on the ground as the child loses interest in them. Dolls are also used during a girl’s initiation ceremony and through marriage. Barren women also commission larger biiga. They care for these dolls as well as they would a child in the hopes that they will be blessed with a real child. These well washed and tended baby dolls often reflect many years of devoted care resulting in the doll’s angular faces being almost washed and rubbed away.

Blacksmiths carve these dolls in their spare time since there is a steady and ready market for them. Today they are also popular souvenir items.

Elizabeth Bennett states:

The Mossi are the largest tribe living in Burkina Faso, formerly the Upper Volta. For pictures of dolls similar to these, see Bacquart's book: TRIBAL ARTS OF AFRICA and Cameron's book: ISN'T S/HE A DOLL - PLAY AND RITUAL IN AFRICAN SCULPTURE.

8" Mossi Doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Mossi Doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Western Coast of Africa: Cote D'Ivoire - Abe People
 
 

need a  photo

Western Coast of Africa: Cote D'Ivoire - Baule People
 

Baule colonial doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Brightly Painted Baule Dolls Elizabeth Bennett describes this male doll as "Baule colonial doll - An older piece, with scarification on face and painted clothes and face. Height is 11.5 inches."

Western Coast of Africa: Ghana
Peoples: Asanti, Brong, Ewe (see Togo area), Fanti and Ga

Western Coast of Africa: Ghana - Asanti / Ashanti / Ashante People
 
 

Ashanti Akua'ba Thanks to the Sherwood Collection

Akua'ba Dolls Little flat, disk shaped head figures (akua'ba, pl. akua mma) are carried by girls and young women, often tucked in the back of their skirts like a baby. Most have stiff cross shaped bodies, but full length figures may have articulated legs. Older akua'ba figures seem to be half figures with even more simplified, stylized cylindrical bodies. The sex of the doll is marked just above the base, and most of these dolls are female in this matrilineal culture. Typically the necks are elongated with horizontal rings carved around the neck. The disk shaped heads and neck rings emulate the local customs of mechanical body shaping. Many dolls wear necklaces, and ear rings. Some have hair threaded through holes along the edge of the paddle shaped heads  William Fagg calls akua'ba figures "dolls" while Elsy Leuziner calls them "fertility charms" which were worn to insure fertility and a safe birth.

Ashanti Akua'ba photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

3D Ashanti figure photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Western Coast of Africa: Ghana - Fanti / Fante Peope
 

need a photo

Fanti / Fante Akua'ba The Fanti are closely related to the Ashanti tribe. They have a similar doll custom. They prefer flat, elongated, rectangular heads topped with feathers. At one time these were falsely identified as male Ashanti Akua'ba dolls.

 

12.5" carved woman photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Fanti / Fante - carved woman from Ghana Elizabeth Bennett states, "This carved woman from Ghana is an older figure with a superb patina. The patina shows much handling -- lovely to touch. A magnificent piece 12.5 inches. The hairstyle is elaborate, and all other lines are simple and austere. It has a prominent age crack."

Western Coast of Africa: Ghana - Ga Peope
 

"Tsobii" Doll need photo

"Tsobii" Doll by the Ga people of Ghana Tsobii dolls are small very flat wood cutouts with minimal carving and adorned with minimal embellishment like small necklaces. Theyare associated with the death of a child with the hope of their return. But yet these dolls were often found on trash piles.   Margaret Field is quoted as saying, "I am uncertain of the theory of wooden dolls and whether they always work in the same way. Their presence, however, invariably indicates that a child has died and is desired to return. I have seen them on rubbish heaps, tied to women's backs as living children are tied, laid outside Na Afiye's (the goddess of birth) grove with offerings of food, pots & etc., and laid on a tray with twin's horns when one of the twins has died" See page 65 of ISN'T S/HE A DOLL? by Elizabeth Cameron

Miscellaneous Dolls from Ghana:

Today many different people from this region make dolls in the style of and very similar to the very popular and profitable Ashanti dolls. Gerry Glaeve does not specifically state that these are Ashanti dolls but only that they were from Ghana. Can anyone tell me if these were specifically from the Ashanti people or who might have made these? Who are making the beaded head akua'ba type souvenir dolls with the shapely torsos?
 

11" & 13" Maternity figures from Ghana photo thanks to G.F. Glaeve Glaeve Gallery

13" & 12" Puberty Dolls w/ beaded head from Ghana photo thanks to G.F. Glaeve Glaeve Gallery

11" & 13" Maternity figures from Ghana photo thanks to G.F. Glaeve Glaeve Gallery

Western Coast of Africa: Togo and Benin
Peoples: Ewe

The Benin region can boast some of the most spectacular African art in ivory, bronze and wood.

Western Coast of Africa: Togo - Ewe People

Ewe Man photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Ewe - Old carved wooden doll from Togo Elizabeth Bennett states,  "This doll (male) has a robe which ties around his neck. The Ewe are related to the Ashante people, and live in Ghana and Togo. One of these dolls can be seen on the cover of ISN'T S/HE A DOLL, PLAY AND RITUAL IN AFRICAN SCULPTURE, by Cameron, published by the Fowler Museum of African Art, UCLA.  These dolls have different uses. They are twin dolls, like the ibeji of the Yoruba. They are also used as children's dolls, fertility dolls, and worn under the skirts of young women. They are sometimes dressed or beaded (see pictures in Cameron book)."

Ewe Vodun Fetish Figure photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Ewe Vodun Fetish Figure  Elizabeth Bennett states: "The cloth appears to have been drenched with sacrificial libations. Cowry shells on neck, encrusted patina."

West Africa:

Stilt dolls photo thanks to Mark Hebel

Stilt Dolls from Ouagadougou The owner, Mark Hebel, states:  I collected the dolls on a trip to West Africa in 1996. I do not how old they are. I think they are fairly new considering how good of shape they are in. I don't have much info on the dolls. I bought them on the spur of the moment just as I was leaving Ouagadougou so I didn't have a chance to ask the dealer I bought them from any questions. They look like a modern type of doll perhaps designed to be used as an interior decorating element. Especially if these can wear your choice of wooden, African masks. They would be a great foil to display some collectibles to give them a more authentic 3D presence. I can image that they would add a lot of impact to any interior space with an African theme! I need more information about "African stilt dolls" - please email Jean Lotz