COLLECTIONS
STORYTELLING BY DESIGN
The Yoro Ring
Passport masks or miniature masks were created by almost every ethnic group in West Africa across the 19th and 20th century. Crafted small enough to fit in one’s palm, the owner would carry the mask when traveling. It would be woven into garments or worn as an amulet to keep the wearer physically and spiritually connected to their tribe.
The Ba Earrings
A beautiful story to share of femininity, motherhood and wishes for wellness.
Akan society is matrilineal, it is extremely important that Akan women can give birth. Women who are barren often find themselves ostracised in their communities.
Legend has it that there once lived an Akan woman called Akua who was unable to conceive. Akua visited a fetish priest who carved her a wooden doll to carry on her back. Akua took the doll home and cared for it as she would a real baby. She was laughed at by those in her village, who referred to the doll as Akua’ba’, meaning Akua’s child. Soon Akua fell pregnant and gave birth, it is said that from then on women adopted the practice of carrying ‘akuaba’ on their backs to conceive.
