Sowei mask: spirit of Sierra Leone

[@bitasnsons]

"Sowo bembe, Sowo bembe, weh na loh Ndoli maka kande loh ma, weh na loh" The Sowo spins, the Sowo spins, you'll not see (catch/understand) There's a mystery to our dance (that) you'll not see (catch/understand)

[@Umarsesay-ko3jm]

It reads like Tebrae, two lines poem researched by Ismaël Diedara, the Malian poet and scholars.

[@omobanedonaija6966]

A shout out from an Edo, Nigeria man to my brethren in Sierra Leone. This is very, very interesting. I give a big thanks to all of you keeping our African culture! God and our ancestors are with you, amen. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

[@carlacampbellart8028]

Bendicion...Through dna testing I learned I am Mende....Also an initate currently wearing white through lucumi in the diaspora, I see the links to culture and how it survived across the waters! This was beautiful and sad to see all at once.

[@inmyessence3804]

I just found out I am 100% Mende. I want to learn more. Can you point me to some info about initiation?

[@hawakromah1060]

@@inmyessence3804 am mende from sierra leone 🇸🇱

[@nms6431]

Welcome sis... me too through my mom❤

[@nms6431]

​@@inmyessence3804 my mom can teach you how to speak it!

[@ceofromda517]

@@hawakromah1060 what Mende tribe are you from me I’m from the VAI my name is Sandy Luseini Massaquoi

[@17Denisha]

The pain and scars this mask left behind, so many women hurt from adolescence.

[@perla5465]

It hurts?

[@phizzy123]

@@perla5465she’s probably referring to FGM

[@mendeye2056]

I shouldn't be given it away at all

[@ArtHistoryProfessor]

Known as a Bundu/Sowei mask, this elaborately wrought and carefully embellished object is utilized within the all-female Sande societies of the Mende, Temne, and Vai tribes, who primarily inhabit Southern and Eastern Sierra Leone as well as small areas of Guinea and Liberia. More importantly, it is the only mask in Africa that is exclusively made for and worn by women. These sacred initiation masks and their accompanying costumes symbolize and embody ideal female beauty and proper morality, both of which are two highly esteemed attributes and virtues that comprise the rigidly insular, social, ethical, moral, and religious fabric of these West African tribes. And though it's one of the most beautiful and highly prized masks by Western collectors, unbeknownst to most people, this revered female mask follows a cultural tradition that includes the controversial, ritual practice of female circumcision-better known throughout the world by virtue of the WHO (World Health Organization) and UN as FGM (female genital mutilation). Sadder still is the lamentable fact that the vast majority of art museums and cultural institutions throughout the world that have these ritual masks in their collections intentionally fail to mention this in their information-curatorial placards, collection catalogues, and exhibition videos.

[@perla5465]

Interesting

[@antoines522]

Yes, got to look up the white headdress as a sign of FGM. Sad. And they still debate about it when young women needlessly die from a ritual of passage. Well, can’t pass if you end up dead. Doesn’t make sense. Thanks for the info

[@williejinnahkosseh2289]

WONDERFUL and Impressive. This is womanhood. Why on earth these things are not shown on BBC 1 Mainstream news.

[@jobsunguti9224]

return our artifacts to Africa

[@alexisnoellee]

Should be returned to its rightful owners!

[@swahili21stcentury36]

Superb!

[@evesmith4025]

It's beautiful to see both my birth home an my other home sl UK ❤❤ lek me culture

[@musu8528]

stolen, not “collected.”

[@the3lusive]

What language are they speaking ?

[@yz4811]

Mende

[@the3lusive]

Yatta Zoker Thanks

[@chocoluba4534]

the3lusive Mende

[@yeye01189329]

By reading the comments Mende.

[@lukeramer7702]

Idk if anyone's said this yet, but I think it's Mende

[@lodzmoimmiastem]

That was interesting.

[@bangurasalima9269]

Nice one

[@sumailasaidu7285]

Perfect

[@IsaiahClark-c5v]

it being given to white woman at the end KILLS the whole thing

[@jobsunguti9224]

shame on you colonialists,you even took artifacts belonging to our ancestors and culture.

[@perla5465]

😞

[@christianagbonda8304]

Menday tribe.

[@anitaann1420]

All these nasty Covenant hv reuin our destiny's today

[@Duwor]

Yours

[@perla5465]

🇸🇱

[@KreativeKellz]

They had to present it to a white woman which is probably how it was displaced from jump. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@musu8528]

this was really sad. letting elders in the community borrow back pieces of our culture from the people that stole it from us in cold blood. phew.