This fascinating ethnographic figure is a Makishi masquerade doll, originating from the Luvale, Lunda, or Chokwe peoples of Zambia and/or Zimbabwe, most likely produced between the 1950s and 1980s. The Makishi tradition is one of the most important ceremonial practices of the peoples of northwestern Zambia and northern Zimbabwe. These figures represent ancestral spirits (Makishi) who appear during the Mukanda, i.e. the male initiation rite marking a boy's transition to manhood. The doll faithfully miniaturises the full ceremonial costume worn by masked dancers during these rituals. Construction and materials: The figure is constructed over a wire armature and covered in coarsely woven raffia/burlap cloth, painted in the traditional tricolour palette of black, terracotta red, and white. The body is decorated with characteristic spotted dot motifs and banded stripe patterns on the arms. The oversized head features painted eye motifs referencing the large wooden masks worn by Makishi dancers. A natural raffia fringe skirt hangs from the lower body, directly echoing the costume worn in ceremony. The figure is mounted on a small wooden display plinth. Condition: Excellent condition Dimensions: 290×150×140mm Note: This piece was produced for the tourist and collector market, a well-documented practice from the mid-20th century onward. It is not a ceremonial object intended for ritual use, but it is an authentic, hand-crafted artifact representing a living cultural tradition of great significance. UNESCO inscribed the Makishi masquerade of Zambia on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2005. Keywords/Tags: Makishi, Luvale, Lunda, Chokwe, Zambia, Zimbabwe, raffia, tribal art, ethnographic, masquerade, initiation, Mukanda, African doll, ceremonial figure, mid-20th century, African tribal art, UNESCO intangible heritage