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The masks below have been sold and are left here for reference and educational
purposes.
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Photographs © Tim Hamill
MENDE, BUNDU HELMET MASKS, Sierra Leone
Bundu (or Sande), a women's association, is almost unique in Africa in that it controls the use of these masks, which embody Sowo, their guardian spirit. The masks usually include an elaborate hairstyle and attempt to represent serene feminine beauty, with high foreheads, small, compressed facial features, and voluminous neck-rings, depicting the desirable full-figured woman. Originally all had a dark raffia collar and were worn with a full, dark costume of raffia on cloth.
Masks like numbers 23 and 31 were worn by male dancers, but were thought to represent female spirits.
GO TO MENDE ART PAGE
GO TO MENDE MASKS PAGE 1
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