Bundu / Sowei Helmet Mask (Mende peoples)

[@Sasha0927]

I love these masks! They remind me of figures you'd see in The Legend of Zelda. How interesting that they're worn on the top of your head rather than over the face! It's also interesting the contrast between these masks and the golden stool that is always held sacred with spiritual meaning. I enjoyed seeing the different variations of the masks around 4 mins. It'd be interesting to hear the breakdown of their aesthetic with the associated meanings - especially the one on the left at 4:01. Very cool stuff.

[@africakingkong7921]

The mask you see in museum is the one that is carved, but the one that they put on is never carved. It is always found on the river side by the sowei in the size of a walnut with some spiritual ceremony perform it becomes expanded.

[@zenixcannon146]

It's not body fat around the neck on the mask. It's actually neck rings. They've been shaped larger because if they were tall the mask wouldn't fit on the head of the person wearing it. Also most things have been exaggerated in shape. The neck rings have also been exaggerated. It's NOT fat!!

[@giantred]

Thank you for teaching me something :)

[@elsafralves]

Amazing! Mother Africa!

[@hawawally4001]

Elsa Alves

[@agnesfofanah6960]

Hair style,top is put in a bond. Check Africa women till braid there like this.

[@brucegrahamart]

Thumbs up !

[@tahliaburnett1568]

💗

[@omogenaija1]

There's nothing beautiful about this culture. Bondo is FGM.

[@millahura4752]

what do you mean there is nothing beautiful about this culture?

[@17Denisha]

The girls are mutilated and that mask is no ordinary mask. The "Bundu" dancer wrestles with the devilish spirit for three days and night to get this mask. This secret society has produced so many scared women.

[@shimadamada7758]

@@17Denisha You're referring to the tradition without the context of the time period of its origins. You can't judge something as immoral without looking at the history behind it. As people who haven't been in the society, we may look at it as immoral, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is.

[@17Denisha]

ShimadaMada I am of the Mende tribe, I am not just talking because I want to talk. It is heavily part of my culture.

[@alexandrasellsseashells]

@@17Denisha and i oop- seems like no one wants to counter you now because they realized they have no say