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Akan goldweights have aptly been described as
‘tales in bronze’ as they symbolise a variety of
local proverbs. This example depicts a bird with
its neck twisted backwards, perched on a tiered
pedestal. There are many interpretations of its
meaning but the most common proverbs
associated with this form are as follows: ‘Pick it
up if it falls behind’ (whatever mistakes one has
made in the past can be corrected), ‘Go back and
pick’ (any aspect of culture that doesn’t draw
from its past to replenish the present and cast a
shadow into the future will die), ‘When it lies
behind you, take it’ (use the wisdom of the past),
or simply ‘one foot should be in front of
another.’ Known as ‘sankofa’, this image is a
symbol of wisdom, knowledge and the
importance of heritage.
Akan is the name of a language spoken by
related groups of people in Ghana (previously the
Gold Coast) and south-eastern Ivory Coast. Gold
fueled the Akan rise to prosperity and was traded
first across the Sahara and ultimately to Europe
and the Americas. Brass gold weights were part
of the paraphernalia of the trade, that also
included scales, spoons, shovels and gold dust
boxes. Created out of brass using the ‘lost wax
process’, they were placed on scales to
counterbalance piles of gold dust. The earliest
examples dating from the fourteenth century
were abstract in form but by the later period they
assumed a wide variety of figurative and
zoomorphic shapes. Ownership of a complete set
of elaborate weights was regarded as a mark of
status, and they were often presented to young
men at their weddings to mark the start of their
business careers. The skill in casting these
weights was enormous as in addition to their
aesthetic appeal they had to weigh a specific
amount. Even the most beautiful figurative
weights occasionally had limbs or horns removed
or filed away to achieve this. Another examples
would have small lead rings or glass beads
attached to bring the weight up to the desired
standard. The enthusiasm for these elaborate
weights which had obvious practical drawbacks
demonstrates the significance that the Akan
peoples attached to proverbial wisdom in the
conduct of their everyday lives. (AM)
- (PF.9955)
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