Female Mask

1900-25; Northern Mozambique, Makonde; Wood, pigment; height 21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.); Founders Society Purchase, Ralph Harman Booth Bequest Fund, Abraham Borman Family Fund, and Joseph H. Boyer Memorial Fund; 80.19

The Makonde wear masks for two important dance ceremonies: the mapiko, which is associated with the initiation of men and women into adulthood, and the ngoma, which is a ceremony instructing youths about the responsibilities of marriage and adult family life. The ovoid-shaped mask is painted red to represent skin. Although the white lip labret designated this as a female mask, it can only be worn by a man, although it could be used in either ceremony.

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