MENDE - BUNDU - SOWEI HELMET MASK ( Sierra Leone ) .
Early 20th century
Early 20th century
The concept of the all seeing spirits personified by the Sowei mask is expressed through the multiple faces
carved on the mask. Beautiful mask topped with a another small head facing the back wearing a necklace
with a lion tooth pendant. The mask is ornamented with twisted silver all along the forehead and the neck
rings as well as the small head with two knotted snakes eating lizards on both sides. Closed mouth and lip
eyes expressing power.
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 for Sande officials. Sowei mask are kept in special enclosures
called Kende where the mask attendant keeps medicine and masks.
carved on the mask. Beautiful mask topped with a another small head facing the back wearing a necklace
with a lion tooth pendant. The mask is ornamented with twisted silver all along the forehead and the neck
rings as well as the small head with two knotted snakes eating lizards on both sides. Closed mouth and lip
eyes expressing power.
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 for Sande officials. Sowei mask are kept in special enclosures
called Kende where the mask attendant keeps medicine and masks.