Tribal Art

Striking realism for this African Makonde mask. The ancestors would return masked in order to mark their satisfaction following the initiation. Some of these masks have wax tattoos, here they are engraved on the surface. Matte gray patina. Abrasions and desiccation cracks.
The Makonde of northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania wore helmet masks called lipiko during initiation ceremonies for young people. The Makonde venerate an ancestor, which explains the abundance of naturalistic female statuary. In addition to the face masks worn during mapiko dances and ngoma ceremonies that educate young people about the demands of marriage and family life, the Makonde also produce body masks featuring the female bust.