The Legend of the African Fertility Statues

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – the global authority on the weird, strange and bizarre – is taking the Fertility Statues out on tour again. Two authentic African fertility statues, which 2,500 women believe may have helped them become pregnant, will be in display in the lobby of our Orlando Believe It or Not! museum, FREE OF CHARGE!

The statues will remain in Orlando until further notice so the next time you are in the sunshine state stop by and see what all the fuss is about.

A Little History

The five foot tall wooden statues were acquired from the Baule people of the Ivory Coast of West Africa and within a year of going on display at Ripley Entertainment’s head office in Orlando, Florida, 13 office staff and visitors became pregnant.

The statues, representing a king and queen, came from the Ivory Coast of Africa, where they were carved in the 1930s by Baule tribesmen. The king holds a sword and a mango, and the queen holds an infant. The is considered a fertility symbol in parts of Africa. According to legend, the statues are to be placed outside a bedroom door, and couples wishing to conceive should touch them as they enter the room.

Following a three-year world tour in the late 90s, the company received more than 2,000 letters from women who had become pregnant shortly after touching the statues – even though many had been told by doctors they would never conceive.

The good news for any would-be mothers, the statues are now back on the road and have arrived at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not!  museum in Orlando Florida – ready and waiting to be touched. They are in the lobby and may be visited and TOUCHED completely free of charge. Ripley’s Orlando is open from 9:30 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year.

“We are not making any claims for the statues, but it is amazing just how many women have told us they became pregnant after touching them, even though some of them had been told they would never give birth.”

Anyone who fancies what could be the cheapest fertility treatment in the world is welcome to come and try their luck at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

 

2011 Tour Schedule

• WHERE: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Orlando, FL
  
• DATES:  Until further notice the statues will remain in Orlando

Please call the location before you make travel plans to visit our statues, the schedule is subject to change at anytime!