Sande society mask (sowei)
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About this Brooklyn Icon
The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.
This sowei mask, also called a helmet mask, was a key element in the initiation ceremony of the secret, all-woman Sande society. Worn on top of the head as part of a masquerade, the mask was attached to a costume made of blackened raffia fibers and cloth, concealing the face and body. All girls were initiated into the society, and the ceremony was a crucial step in transitioning them into womanhood. The Sande society is a rare example of a group in which the masquerade tradition is controlled exclusively by women, highlighting their extraordinary social position in their communities.
In its original context, this masquerade represents a water spirit emanating from the bottom of rivers and lakes. It is activated through dance and accompanied by musicians and attendants to teach female initiates about morality and ways of living. The mask’s blackened patina, downcast eyes (suggesting humility), small demure mouth (suggesting caution when using one's words—not to gossip), and elaborate coiffure represent the ideal woman, whom the initiates should strive to become.
Object Label
The ceremonies of the Sande society are the only occasions in Africa in which women customarily wear wooden masks. Masks like this one represent the society's guardian spirit at public events such as funerals or the installations of chiefs.
The features of the mask illustrate the group's ideal of feminine beauty, with a broad, high forehead, small narrow eyes, and an elaborate coiffure. The elegant hairstyles also symbolize the importance of social cooperation, since a woman needs the help of her friends to dress her hair.
In Sierra Leone and western Liberia, each town has a Sande society that includes all of the women in the community. It represents them and binds them together as a powerful social and political force. The Sande society is one of the most influential patrons of the visual arts in West Africa.
Caption
Vani Sona ca. 1885–1951; Mende. Sande society mask (sowei), 20th century. Wood, pigment, 16 x 7 3/4 x 10 1/4 in. (40.6 x 19.7 x 26 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund and Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, by exchange, 69.39.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.2_edited_SL1.jpg)
Tags
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Title
Sande society mask (sowei)
Date
20th century
Geography
Place made: Sierra Leone
Medium
Wood, pigment
Classification
Dimensions
16 x 7 3/4 x 10 1/4 in. (40.6 x 19.7 x 26 cm)
Credit Line
Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund and Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, by exchange
Accession Number
69.39.2
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
Why is this called a "helmet mask"?
It is called a helmet mask because it a two-in-one object -- it's worn on the head like a helmet or hat, but the front covers the face like a mask. It is a term that we can use to describe the object which makes sense to us.If you look closely, you can see amazing details like the horizontal hair braiding - are you able to see the back at all? If you can see it in the round, you can see the knob-like bumps where each braid ends at the back of the head. If you look closely, you can see amazing details like the horizontal hair braiding - are you able to see the back at all? If you can see it in the round, you can see the knob-like bumps where each braid ends at the back of the head.
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