Image: Ashanti soulwasher by Claire H
Description: Ashanti soul washer badge or Akrafokonmu, 18th century Ghana is part of an area that was a major source of gold for European and Islamic markets prior to the discovery of the metal in the Americas. The Asante and other rulers there maintained large courts of officials. One group of high-ranking attendants at court participated in ceremonies glorifying the king wore a special gold disk known as a "soul-washer's badge."
Ghana, Asante group, Akan peoples 18th - 19th century Gold
Item number: L.1982.92
Author: Claire H. from New York City, USA
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Attribution Required?: Yes
Image usage
The following 2 pages link to this image: