Anyi Attye Maternity Figure with Children on Stool Côte d'Ivoire

Anyi, also spelled Agni, are African people who inhabit the tropical forest of eastern Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana and speak a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo language family. The Anyi people created a collection of figures, predominantly depicting full-frontal, standing female figures with muscular limbs and distinctive facial features. These features include an incised mouth, a T-shaped nose, enlarged globular eyes, button-like scarifications, and an intricate coiffure divided into raised masses. The figures, adorned with miniature gold necklaces and displaying a rich patina, were likely utilized by traditional healers to communicate messages to spirits in the other world. Occasionally, they were awarded as prizes to exceptional dancers. Around the middle of the 18th century, most of the Anyi were expelled from Ghana by the Asante and migrated westward.

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