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Complex combination of occasional iconographic motif been especially popular in
eastern Mendeland. This mask display knotted snakes eating a lezard on both sides
of the mask topped with a bowl with two rats sneaking to eat what's in it. The mask
also features ngaya maki scarifications on the cheeks and two leather encased
amulets in a form of small drums above the forehead and the nape.
According to Yale's archives this mask belong to workshop Number 9
MENDE - BUNDU - SOWEI HELMET MASK .
The Mende culture is primarily found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, western Guinea and
Mali. Secret societies among the Mende are called Poro, which means "laws of
ancestor spirits, thereby imparting power to the Poro from ancestor spirits. The Poro
duties include settling disputes, controlling fishing and harvesting, and regulating the
economy and trading. Other societies within the Mende are responsible for military
training, agricultural fertility, general education, sexual conduct, and medical and
social services. The Mende women belong to a secret society called Sande which is
primarily responsible for training young girls for the adult roles they will soon
encounter. Mende girls are instructed in child care, homemaking, sexual matters
abed the proper attitude towards husbands and authority. Mende boys are
instructed in road maintenance, clearing land for agriculture, bridge and trap
making, basketry and weaving, traditional law and custom, and the art of enduring
hardship and pain. Secret societies dominate the lives of traditional West Africans
and serve to establish social, political, economic, and artistic rules that solidify and
unite the culture.
The Sande society uses the word ''Sowei'' to represent the personification of the
society's spirit, medicine, and the most important masked dancer. The Sowei is
present at initiation school, brings male offenders to justice, and is the chief mourner
at funerals foe Sande officials. Sowei mask are kept in special enclosures called
Kende where the mask attendant keeps medicine and masks..
eastern Mendeland. This mask display knotted snakes eating a lezard on both sides
of the mask topped with a bowl with two rats sneaking to eat what's in it. The mask
also features ngaya maki scarifications on the cheeks and two leather encased
amulets in a form of small drums above the forehead and the nape.
According to Yale's archives this mask belong to workshop Number 9
MENDE - BUNDU - SOWEI HELMET MASK .
The Mende culture is primarily found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, western Guinea and
Mali. Secret societies among the Mende are called Poro, which means "laws of
ancestor spirits, thereby imparting power to the Poro from ancestor spirits. The Poro
duties include settling disputes, controlling fishing and harvesting, and regulating the
economy and trading. Other societies within the Mende are responsible for military
training, agricultural fertility, general education, sexual conduct, and medical and
social services. The Mende women belong to a secret society called Sande which is
primarily responsible for training young girls for the adult roles they will soon
encounter. Mende girls are instructed in child care, homemaking, sexual matters
abed the proper attitude towards husbands and authority. Mende boys are
instructed in road maintenance, clearing land for agriculture, bridge and trap
making, basketry and weaving, traditional law and custom, and the art of enduring
hardship and pain. Secret societies dominate the lives of traditional West Africans
and serve to establish social, political, economic, and artistic rules that solidify and
unite the culture.
The Sande society uses the word ''Sowei'' to represent the personification of the
society's spirit, medicine, and the most important masked dancer. The Sowei is
present at initiation school, brings male offenders to justice, and is the chief mourner
at funerals foe Sande officials. Sowei mask are kept in special enclosures called
Kende where the mask attendant keeps medicine and masks..
MENDE - BUNDU - SANDE -
SOWEI HELMET MASK ( Sierra
Leone )
Early 20th century.
SOWEI HELMET MASK ( Sierra
Leone )
Early 20th century.