ASANTE OR BAULE, GHANA/COTE D’IVOIRE

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Asante gold necklaces featuring disk-shaped pendants, known as akrafokonmu or ‘soul washer’s disks,’ are symbols of leadership, spirituality, and protection. These ornate gold discs are traditionally worn by rulers, queen mothers, and officials called akrafo, who perform rituals to cleanse leaders’ souls. Intricate, radiating patterns are often worked into the faces of these disks, evoking the sun’s life-giving energy and underscoring gold’s association with the vital life force (kra).

Akrafokonmu are crafted with techniques such as lost-wax casting and repoussé, showcasing the exceptional skill of Asante goldsmiths. This exquisite pendant features a shining disk with sawtooth border, its surface quartered by a narrow central column and faint horizontal crossbar. Groups of soft green beads are worked into the beautifully arranged chain, alternating with finely detailed gold bars.

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