Minneapolis Institute of Art

Sande mask

Mende artist

Date

second quarter of 20th century

Medium

Wood, raffia

Culture

Mende

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A mask sometimes embodies ideals of physical and moral beauty or goodness. Here, the high forehead, downcast eyes, and elaborate coiffure suggest the pinnacle of female attractiveness among the Mende people. One of the very few types of masks worn by women in Africa, it accompanied young girls who had undergone initiation into the Sande association that prepared them for adulthood. The dyed raffia attached to the mask was part of a larger costume that would have entirely covered the dancer. Sierra Leone

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