Fertility Statues

In 1993 Ripley’s acquired two African fertility statues, little knowing they would become our most popular exhibits.

Thousands of women have testified that after trying to conceive for years, they got pregnant after laying their hands on the legendary statues.Baulé tribesman of the West African nation of Cote D’Ivoire carved the statues from ebony wood sometime on the 1930s.

According to tribal legend, to ensure a couple’s fertility the statues are to be placed on either side of a doorway leading into a bedroom. If a woman or her spouse touches either statue as they enter the room, they will soon get pregnant.

The male and female statues were hand carved with primitive tools. They stand five feet high and weigh over 70 pounds each.

The African legend does not specify where one should touch the statues to ensure fertility. For many women, it has not seemed to matter. Thousands of women have testified that after trying to conceive for years, they got pregnant only after laying their hands on the legendary statues.