Helmet mask "ndoli jowei" · Sierra Leone, Mende · ID: 3048731
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 21 September 2002, Lot 82
Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany
Description
wood, sheet metal,
The life of the Mende is regulated by a number of initiation societies. The most important are the “poro” society of men and the “sande” society of women. The main aim of the “sande” is to prepare girls for marriage and motherhood.
At the final initiation ceremonies, the newly initiated are led through the village by a masked figure called “ndoli jowei” (“the sowei who dances”). This masked figure is believed to embody the guardian spirit of the “sande”- society, called “ngafa”.
Helmet masks “ndoli jowei” may only be worn by the highest-ranking members of the “sande” association, a woman called “sowei”.
The object Helmet mask “ndoli jowei” with the object ID 3048731 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 36 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000.
You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Publications
Albert-König-Museum (Hg.), Afrikanische Kunst, Sammlung Robert Lewitzki, Unterlüß 2001, p. 18, cat. 17