Goldweight [Bird with Two Cannons] 19th-20th century

This bronze goldweight, crafted by the Akan people, presents us with a bird perched atop two cannons. A peculiar combination, isn't it? Birds, often symbols of freedom and spirituality, coupled with cannons, instruments of power and destruction. Consider how the image of a bird carrying messages or souls appears across cultures, from ancient Egyptian depictions of the soul as a bird to the dove representing peace. And yet, here, the bird is literally supported by cannons, the tools of colonial power that disrupted the Akan people. This juxtaposition evokes the complex interplay between indigenous beliefs and the intrusion of foreign influence. It speaks of resilience, a culture adapting and reinterpreting its symbols in the face of overwhelming change. The cannons ground the bird, transforming its symbolism, weighting it down with historical tension. As you reflect on this image, consider the enduring power of symbols to both preserve and transform cultural memory.