Fali Fertility Doll
Tribe: Fali
Country: Cameroon
Material: Wood, Beads, Cowrie shells, cloth.
Size: 11.5" (29.2cm) Tall
When a young Fali man is preparing for marriage, he carves a doll, known as ham pilu from wood, decorating it with hair, beads, and other small fetish objects. This doll is given to his fiance, who wears it in a baby carrier on her back. The doll is a symbol of their marriage commitment and represents their future child. The man gives the doll the gender that he desires for his first-born. The young woman cares for the figure until the promised child is born; at this point, the couple carefully stores the doll away. |
