Truncated Hope

Truncated Hope is a sculptural representation of love, protection, and survival in the face of unimaginable loss. The composition features:

• A father carrying his wife and child on his back as he attempts to move them to safety, symbolizing strength and responsibility.

• The mother, elevated by the father, reaching out with her hands and clings to her feet, representing both the foresight of imminent danger and the agony of separation.

• The young daughter, secured to her mother’s back, smiles as she holds an Akuaba doll, a traditional fertility figure among the Akan people of Ghana. The doll represents hope, lineage, and the future that remains despite adversity.

The sculpture also serves as a broader representation of Africa and its diaspora, emphasizing a shared ancestry and the enduring impact of forced displacement. It fosters a message of reconciliation, remembrance, and unity.

Historical Inspiration: This piece is directly inspired by my own ancestral history. My grandmother recounted how her great-grandparents were captured into slavery in the 1800s by the forces of Samori Touré. They were taken from their farm—a husband, wife, and daughter—and brought to a slave camp in Bondoukou, Ivory Coast. The parents were sold, leaving their young daughter behind. She later became the wife of one of Touré’s former bandits, giving birth to a lineage that remained in Ivory Coast for generations. 

Decades later, in the early 1900s, my ancestors were rediscovered by their extended family in Ghana and brought back to Berekum. My grandmother, then an eight-year-old child, vividly remembered the grand durbar held in their honor, welcoming them back home.

This story has deeply shaped my understanding of history and identity. I have often reflected on the unanswered questions: Where did my ancestors end up? Did they ever dream of reuniting with their daughter? Did they believe she would survive? 

These questions, and the countless untold stories of enslaved Africans, inspired Truncated Hope.