Abedua is one of the Ashanti's fertility dolls, usually kept on altars by the village elders and retrieved during initiation rituals. It is also the custom for new parents-in-law to gift an Abedua doll to their son's new wife. Abedua literally means palm tree, which is seen as a fertile plant because it always bears fruits, can be tapped for wine and if buried nearby one, the deceased is said to enjoy the sweet mushrooms that germinate near it. Inspired by this ancient Ashanti tradition, Victor Yao Delanyo carves a detailed Abedua doll from sese wood, which he adorns with colorful beaded accessories. Painted by hand, the doll resembles an antique piece.
Language: English
