African Collection Mende Artist Helmet Mask (Sowei) Mende artist Among many African peoples, women participate in and support masquerade traditions even when the role of the masquerade performer is reserved exclusively for men. Within the women's organization of the Mende people, known as Sande, however, women play a prominent role in managing and performing masquerades associated with initiation ceremonies. Only women wear the black, wooden masks, like this sowei (pl. bundu), which follows a strict format of a delicate face with downturned eyes to convey an idealized form of elegance and beauty, as well as a serious expression of inner spiritual concentration. |
  
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