African Tribal Wood Bird Carving with Metal Accents, "Red Sankofa"

Artisan Ali Ibrahim of Ghana carves a sculpture that represents a traditional West African adinkra symbol and proverb. A bird is depicted with its head turned backwards, taking an egg off its back. The word sankofain the Twi dialect of Ghana means to "reach back and take it"; in other words, to return to one's roots or take what is good from the past. The artisan carves the sculpture by hand from sese wood and decorates it with embossed aluminum plates and colorful paint.