Staff finial, Akan; Ghana
Wood, gold leaf; L. 11 1/2"
This object, called poma akyi,
would have served as the finial on a staff of a
paramount chief's principal counselor and spokesman,
Okyeame. These individuals act as a means
of indirect communication in Akan culture. The linguist
sits beside the chief and holds the staff in his
left hand when making a formal speech. Every chief
had two or more staffs with reference to a variety
of social and political situations matched by relevant
messages on the finial. This well-balanced and carefully
conceived staff top covered with gold leaf depicts
a seated noble who points to his eye with his index
finger. He is confronted by three smaller figures
who stand before an animal. The finger-to-eye gesture
refers to the proverb "Merebepee mu"
("I am here to investigate"). The linguist
thus implies that the matter under consideration
deserves thorough investigation and stresses the
role of the paramount chief.
