  Turtles, extolled in Akan proverbs for their survival skills and independence, have shells that provide protection as well as serve as mobile homes. The Akan say when a leopard catches a turtle it turns it over and over in vain, acknowledging the turtle's keen survival skills because the leopard is known for its cleverness and power (like a ruler). The proverb "Because the turtle does not like to belong to any clan, it always carries its coffin along with it" refers to the turtle's self-sufficiency.The strong regular patterns of the turtle's shell are commonly emphasized in African art. The pattern of a cross in a circle widely symbolizes the ordering of the cosmos. The paired turtles with the triangles and spirals in the Tusyan pendant (acc. no. 69-35-58) are believed to refer to the movements of the moon through the sky and its effect on cycles of fertility and childbirth.  Toy in form of turtle Undetermined peoples, Harare, Zimbabwe Late 20th century Gourd, plant fiber Gift of Mildred A. Morton, 2000-29-56 |
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