The Sowei or Ndoli Jowei Mask by Unknown Mende Artist in Sierra Leone.
The materials used to make the Sowei mask is wood and black pigment. The masks are carved by male carvers of the tribe in secret. They are typically carved from a single block of wood and weigh 2-4 pounds. Once the mask is carved they polish it with a leaf from a Ficus tree to make it smooth. They then use a dye made from leaves to give it the black color. More modern carvers use black shoe polish to color the mask. The masks are dyed black to represent women's smooth dark skin. The shape of the mask is round and pointed almost triangular. The texture is smooth wood grain and there is a face design carved in the wood and there are ridges.
While in many African tribes…show more content… The Sande masquerade in the ritual masks that only the women are permitted to use. This shows the unusual but fascinating social position of the women in this area of the region.
The design varies depending on the specific area in which it was carved. These masks reflects the cultural views of women and what they think is the ideal feminine beauty of the Mende Women. The hair, full forehead and small facial features are thought to show character, intelligence and wisdom. The eyes which are usually looking down represent modesty. The shining surface and black color represent glowing healthy skin and mystery. The rings of the neck and back are thought to be beautiful and show possible fertility and good health.
Animals on the mask represent good medicine. The birds represent spirit messengers between the spirit world and the human world. Cowries represent wealth. White cloth in the costume represent wealth and purity. A three legged cooking pot represents a woman's knowledge and her domesticity. In costume, these women represent the spirit that animates and supports their organization. These masks are thought to manifest the power of the
