Sowei Mask

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 example wears a number of sebe/sebbeh. or amulets, worn around the base of her neck. The right eye of this mask looks as though it has been enlarged, suggesting it may have been used as a Gonde mask. This was originally part of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum collection. It was acquired by the British Museum in 1954.

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Further Information

• Type: Masks, headdresses
• Object: Sowei Mask
• Materials: Wood
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: 430mm [H] x 205mm [W] x 220 [C]
• Production Date: Pre 1954
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Wellcome Historical Medical Museum
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1954.23.3487

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