A leopard attends the funeral of an antelope, showing his respect for the prey that makes his life possible. It’s a gracious and forbearing nod to the circle of life—but make no mistake who sits atop the food chain of command here. This staff finial would be carried by the ȯkyeame (roughly translated, “linguist” or “counselor”), the highest ranking member of an Asante chief’s retinue in present-day Ghana. The ȯkyeame is gifted with verbal dexterity and speaks for the chief in public. The MFAH has a number of such finials in its African collection, each symbolizing a different proverb.

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