Sande Secret Society with Raffia

The Mende black helmet mask is worn exclusively the elders of a secret female society in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The society is a fellowship of women who are responsible for preparing young Mende women for adulthood.

Sande Secret Society

While most mask in African society reflex feminine features, most of them are worn by men. The Sande Female Secret Society Mask is the only mask worn exclusively by a Sande Mende female from Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Female (Pwo) Mask

This is a female (Pwo) Mask from the Chokwe People Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).   The symbol on the forehead represents a cosmogram or an understanding of the universe. The mask represents beauty.

Female (Pwo) Mas

The Pwo Mask represents a female ancestor. This is significant since the Chokwe people trace their lineage through the mother’s family.

Masquerade Mask

People:  GuroCountry:  Ivory Coast The colorful mask is used in a masquerade festival.

Ceremonial Dan Guerre Warrior Mask

People: Dan PeopleCountry: Ivory Coast, Liberia The Dan Guerre people made this mask to form a fierce-looking force that frightens away evil and negative forces.

Ceremonial Mask

People:  BamanaCountry: Mali The Bamana are members of the Mande culture, a large and powerful group of people in western Africa.

Statute Representing A Male Ancestor

People:  Baule (Baoule)Country:  Ivory Coast The statue stands around five feet tall and was carved to celebrate an ancestor. There is also a female partner that will stand next to this male figure.

Two-Faced Ceremonial Mask

People: Baule (Baoule) Country: Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) The Baule, an Akan people and one of the largest ethnic groups in the Ivory Coast create art in several media, including wooden sculpture, gold, and brass casting.