Mask - Mende - Sierra Leone

Beautiful ceremonial mask of the Mendé people in Sierra Leone and Guinea. These masks were traditionally used by a women’s society, the Sande, on the occasion of the most solemn celebrations, during the administration of justice, at funeral ceremonies and during initiation allowing entry into the Sande society.

During the initiation, women who hold a high rank in the society use these ornaments to welcome the youngest at the end of a three-month retreat in the forest. A long costume completes the mask and serves to conceal the entire body.

The present mask represents the spirit of fertility and embodies feminine waters. The characteristic features of this type of mask are always feminine, even when they embody a masculine spirit.

There are always certain constants in its making: elongated, half-closed eyes, a delicate rendering of the lips, a very sophisticated hairstyle, a finely drawn nose and a serene forehead.