Featuring a small collection of rare, finely woven dolls from the

Fali People in Cameroon, West Africa. Among this group, men make dolls worn by their fiancés. The dolls symbolize commitment and the prospect of a future family. Whoever made them knew what they were creating. They were also reminding us you can never be too old to play with dolls!

Fali Dolls

When you hear the word “doll,” what comes to mind? Is it Barbie, Ken, an action figure, or some pink puffy baby with curly hair and pouty lips, speaking “baby talk” and giggling when the ring on its back is pulled? If you live in the Western world, one or more of the above answers might apply; but if you live in Africa the only correct answer is “none of the above.”

It seems like every African tribe creates dolls, and although they may be playthings or teaching tools made mostly for young girls, they are just as often potent, significant, magical objects created for use by adults. In the west, dolls typically appear as male and female human forms. In Africa, they usually appear as distinctive, abstract works of art.

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