NOTES
Akan individuals of status presented sculptural combs as gifts, often offered by men to women. These combs were cherished as sentimental objects. The symbols decorating this comb convey ideas of royalty, love, wisdom, and wealth.The central motif on top of the comb represents a royal sword. Below, a row of incised outlines portrays an umbrella and a small stool, further suggesting the gift-giver’s royal affiliations. The image of a bird with its head looking backward embodies the Akan concept of sankofa, meaning “move forward by learning from the past.” The heart along with the star and crescent symbolize love, because the star is said to be the lover of the moon. The bottom row shows a figure holding a sickle near a cocoa tree. Cocoa, a symbol for wealth, is an important cash crop grown in Ghana.
