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Sande Society Mask Mende people, Sierra Leone 14 inches, wood The Sande Society guides girls in their transition to womanhood. This is the only important mask-wearing tradition in Africa exclusively for women. In fact, masks are hardly ever worn by women anywhere in the world. These masks, which embody Sowo, the guardian water spirit, are made to fit over the head. They usually include an elaborate hairstyle in an attempt to represent feminine beauty, with high foreheads, small, compressed facial features, and voluminous neck-rings, depicting the desirable full-figured woman. Originally many had a dark raffia collar and were worn with a full, dark costume of raffia and cloth. This one is unusually simple, lacking collar holes and the elaborate coiffure which is so characteristic. Collected in the 1940’s by a missionary family stationed in Sierra Leone. Because of its plainness, I feel this piece is authentic.
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