Up Close With Ripley's Legendary Fertility Statues

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Ripley’s iconic fertility statues were added to the Ripley’s collection in 1993, however the statues actually date back to the 1930s, when they were hand-carved by West African tribesmen.

A Closer Look

In the 1930s, West African Baulé tribesmen carved statues of a man and woman from ebony wood. According to tribal legend, when the two statues were placed on either side of a doorway leading to a bedroom, they were known to ensure a couple’s fertility. If a woman, or her spouse, were to touch either statue as they entered the room, they would soon after become pregnant.

Each of the statues stand five feet tall and weigh over 70 pounds! The male is holding a mango and short sword, both symbols of fertility, while the woman holds a newborn baby. 

The African legend does not specify where one should touch the statues to ensure fertility and, for many women, it hasn’t really seemed to matter! Believe It or Not!, thousands of women have testified that after trying to conceive for years, they got pregnant only after laying their hands on the legendary statues.

However, it appears as though close proximity to a couple’s bedroom is not required, as is attested by those who have conceived after touching the statues at a Ripley’s attraction or have had images of their hands placed upon the sculptures!

Coincidence or Something More?

When the pair of fertility statues was first acquired by Ripley’s in 1993, a rise in pregnancies occurred among Ripley’s employees who had been exposed to the sculptures. Wanting to share the joy and potential luck, we sent the statues on tour around the world!

More than 2,000 couples have attested to the potential power of the statues. Many have even experienced luck after having just a photo of their hand rubbed against the figures!

While we can’t guarantee that coming in contact with these sculptures will put a baby in your belly, we do hear many beautiful testimonials in which it does happen.

From Orlando to Hollywood to Myrtle Beach, we’ve received over 2,000 stories from couples trying to conceive and successfully doing so as a result of touching the statues.

What are you waiting for? Come get up close with these iconic statues at Ripley's Believe It or Not! near you soon!

Can't See Them in Person?

Whoa baby , Don't fret! As many can attest, even just having a picture of a hand placed on the statue has yielded success. Send us a picture of your hand to have it placed on the statue and become a part of the iconic legacy.

Hand submissions can be sent to Ripley's socials: Facebook , X , Instagram , and TikTok .