Goldweight [Mankala Board} 19th-20th century

Curator: This brass sculpture, created by the Akan people in the 19th or 20th century, is titled "Goldweight [Mankala Board]". Editor: My immediate impression is one of ritual, but on a very human scale. The metallic sheen gives it an air of importance, while the small size and simple structure hint at daily life and familiar practices. Curator: Indeed. These goldweights were integral to Akan society. They were not merely weights but a reflection of status, social values, and philosophical beliefs tied to trade. Editor: The Mankala board form is really interesting. Mankala, or a similar pit-and-pebble game, is an extremely widespread game across the African continent. So this connects it to a larger, almost archetypal, set of meanings linked to the role of the board game, linking ideas of chance, skill, and cosmological representation. What purpose did this artwork serve? Curator: Well, this piece served both a practical and symbolic purpose. As a goldweight, it would ensure fair trade and standardized transactions. But the incorporation of the Mankala board adds a deeper layer, referencing themes of strategy, calculation, and perhaps even wisdom within social exchanges. The game itself symbolizes the cyclical nature of life. Editor: This small object encapsulates a world of meaning—a game, a tool, and a cultural statement. I’m intrigued by its tactile nature. Curator: I agree. These goldweights often carry significant visual weight far beyond their material presence. Through the lens of post-colonial studies, we also begin to question the power dynamics involved in the extraction and exchange of resources in a colonial context. Editor: Right. The object stands at the intersection of material culture and cultural memory, reminding us of the complex web of significance embedded in even the smallest of objects. The game, after all, goes on. Curator: Precisely. "Goldweight [Mankala Board]" offers a fascinating microcosm of Akan society.