Asante and Textiles

We learned more about the Asante people and their beliefs this week. We also looked at various types of textiles of the Ghanaian peoples. We studied kente (woven), adinkra (stamped), akunitan (embroidered), and batik (wax-resist) textile styles.

We also were able to get hands on experience with the batik (was-resist) style. Nani Agbeli an Ewe came to show us how to batik. One thing he mentioned today when we were finishing our batik textiles was the idea of possession. He said that when we feel and urge to dance/paint/draw etc it is a spiritual possession that comes in to guide us and help us and then leaves us when we are done. He mentioned that he will not paint unless he feels the urge. People will ask him to come paint and he will say "its not time". He has to feel the urge in him to paint.

I find this fascinating because I am so intrigued by the beliefs and the spirituality of some African peoples. They are constantly looking for guidance from other beings or being. I believe they think little of being self driven but believe they are more guided and or seeking for guidance throughout their lives. But this is my belief.

Something that I found to be very interesting this week about the Asante people was the Aku'ba figurines they have. As we learned about the Asante people we found that they are a matralineal culture and make these Aku'ba figurines. These Aku'ba figures are always female and have spiritual meaning to them. (The Aku ma are always female because the Akan people preferred female children.) These are pieces that women will carry with them believing that they will become pregnant, have healthy babies, and have an easy birth. These figures are consecrated by religious figures before they are carried. After the birth of a child the child sometimes used the Aku'ba as a toy, like a doll.

Women carry these based on a story about a women Akua that was told by a priest to have a figure commissioned that was a child and she would then have to carry this figure and treat it just as she would treat a child. And in doing this she would become pregnant.

I found these figures to be so interesting because of the belief and spiritual meaning behind them. And the detail in the figures themselves showing a perfected image of a child. The figures have flattened foreheads a symbol of beauty in this culture. They also have marks of scarification and long necks.

I keep thinking that we do similar things in America to our children as well. I have heard of many stories of women reading and singing to their babies before they are born to " make them smart". Some women even prefer to have c-sections so their babies have rounder heads. Some Americans try to perfect their child even before they are born. Some Americans also pierce children's ears when they are young possibly being a symbol of beauty. We are constantly dressing up children in "cute" clothes to make these small humans stylish and adorable. I'm not saying any of this is bad, I am just bringing to light some similarities we have in the American culture of perfection.