Ghana and Ivory Coast
Akan

Metal, cowrie shells, seeds, raffia, fiber, Togo seeds
Mid 20th Century
6 inches inner circumference 
Idiophone – Struck Indirectly – Shaken -Rattle Adornment

Dance rattles called ‘awareku’ by the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast play an important part in ritual dance and celebration.  These two artifact dance anklets are made from tightly woven and braided raffia embellished with cowry shells, resonating togo seed pods, and one brass bell.  They are used for dancing to add to the rhythmic element of the music – Authentic showing signs of usage and age.