Sierra Leone and Liberia
Mende

Wood, raffia
Late 19th – Early 20th Century
Length w/raffia: 42 in, Diameter: 12 in
Other – Regalia

A helmet mask called ‘sowei’ among the Mende, Sherbro and Vai and called ‘zogbe’ among the Gola of Sierra Leone and Liberia.  While the masks are carved only by male artists, they are worn exclusively by the senior women members of the Sande society and are said to embody Sande’s guardian spirit, Sowo.  They are danced by the senior members in public during ceremonies to mark the transition of young girls to womanhood, which means the young girls are eligible for marriage and motherhood.  They are also danced at the investiture and funeral of a paramount chief. This helmet mask represents the ideals and authority of the society.

This helmet mask ‘sowei’ presents the ideal image of feminine beauty admired by the Mende.  It is distinguished by an elaborate coiffure and three-lobed thick neck rings.  A small compressed facial feature with slightly arching eyebrows, narrow eye slits, a projecting nose, pursed elliptical lips, and a high forehead are encircled.  The back of the coiffure is composed of graduated ridges running from front to back. The raffia attached to the mask was part of a larger regalia that would have entirely covered the dancer.

Reference: https://ca01001129.schoolwires.net/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=11824&dataid=20437&FileName=Bundu%20mask-%20Mende%20peoples.pdf