THE HISTORY OF WOOD CARVING IN GHANA

Carving is the analytic study of the medium using the requisite tools to remove unwanted parts to arrive at a final product which has been previously conceived in the storehouse of the mind. It requires the use of a particular set of carving tools in order to make the carving process easy and to realize the ultimate goal.  

In Ghana, wood carving started as a communal form of expression which was based on the ideas and ideals of a community or an ethnic group. Carving was done under the strict dictates of clan leaders, chiefs, religious leaders and other opinion leaders in the community. This did not allow for individual carvers to express their ideas and creativity. Nevertheless, carving has helped to sustain communal and social life in many ways. Carving has produced a variety of drums for traditional orchestra and ensembles and that has led the promotion of social cohesion, solidarity and entertainment.

A lot of household items such as those used in the kitchen were carved out of wood. Examples of these include mortars, pestles, ladles, wooden bowls. Others items carved out of wood also include combs, canons, doors, chairs, stools and linguist staff. Traditional games such as oware and toys such as wooden dolls.

Wood carving in Ghana began in the forest areas. This was partly due to the abundance of wood and also easy access to raw materials as well as the interest of the people in the profession. Wood carving was practiced among the Akans of Ghana. It was not practiced on a large scale but rather practiced by few carvers. This limited number of carvers was regarded as the privilege minority because they were so skillful. People also saw them as having been gifted with extraordinary talents from God. The few wood carvers were accorded great respect in the community. Akan wood carvers who were versatile in carving various forms of wood were called “Ohene Dwumfuor” literally translated as “The chief’s carpenter”. Akan traditional carvers were greatly feared and admired for their creativity and ingenuity.

As it was in the past, and as the carving profession progressed over the years, especially among the Akans, it has remained an exclusive preserve for males only. Males were seen to be gifted with special talents and hence were tasked to uphold the tradition. Females were not allowed to carve wood because it involved hard work but rather were made to sell carved objects. Today few women are wood carvers.  

 Inset:Drums

  Inset:Wooden Masks and figurines

 

Inset: Carved Bowls and Wooden Giraffes