Among the Dan people of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, the most hospitable woman in a village is honored with the title Wunkirle (“Feast-Making Woman”). She is in charge of preparing the feast that accompanies masquerade ceremonies and is celebrated for her farming expertise, management skill, and cooking talent. Famous sculptors carve large ceremonial spoons or ladles called wunkirmian or wakemia (“spoon associated with feasts”) to serve as Wunkirle’s connection with the spirit world. They typically feature human attributes. In this example, the handle merges into a base carved as the figure of a woman from the waist down. Her full hips and sturdy legs suggest ideals of fertility and strength.

On feast days Wunkirle dances with the spoon in the middle of a chorus of women and, when the food is ready, uses it to serve generous portions. The spoon and the feast together honor women as the source of food and life.

Image Description: A large carved wooden spoon with a shallow, elongated bowl and a short, squared handle incised with geometric designs standing on a base of rounded, humanlike legs that are slightly spread with well-defined feet.