Sowei Mask

A carved wooden helmet mask used by the exclusively female Sande (Mende) or Bondo/Bundu (Temne) societies. The mask is traditionally worn by a high-ranking member of the society, the dancing sowei , known as the ndoli jowei among the Mende or a-Nowo among the Temne. Worn with a raffia costume, the masks typically have a polished black finish, with neck rings, elaborate coiffure and dignified facial expression. The mask is thought to represent conceptions of idealised womanhood. This mask comes from the Sierra Leone-Liberia border and has a typical ridged hairstyle. The hairstyle is adorned with rectangular packages and horns, likely to depict charms, or amulets. Such packages commonly held Q uranic texts.

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Further Information

• Type: Masks, headdresses
• Object: Sowei Mask
• Materials: Wood
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: 437mm [H] x 215mm x 210mm
• Production Date: Pre 1980
• Associated Places: Sierra Leone-Liberian border (Collected)
• Associated People: Guy Massie-Taylor (Collector)
• Museum: Glasgow Museums
• Accession Number: GLAMG:A.1985.13.b

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