This Makonde mask from Tanzania displays common Makonde tribal features and includes interesting geometric scarification throughout its face. The mask measures 10 inches tall and weighs 1.5 pounds. The exterior is distressed and the piece has an old repair under the chin – please inspect photos carefully.
| Type of Object | Helmet Mask |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Tanzania |
| Ethnicity | Makonde |
| Material | Wood, pigment, metal |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 10" |
| Width (Inches) | 7.5" |
| Depth (Inches) | 12" |
| Weight (Pounds) | 1.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Distressed exterior and old repair underneath chin |
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Tribe Information
About the Makonde People
The Makonde people reside throughout Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya. The groups living in Tanzania and Mozambique are divided by the Ruvuma River. Those on the Mozambique side are known as Maconde. The two groups have developed separate languages over time but share certain ideas.
The Makonde are a matrilineal society, meaning inheritances belong to women and typically, the husband will move to the village of his wife. Each village is an individual settlement with their own headman. There is no ruler of all the Makonde peoples.
Due to the remoteness of the Makonde, they did not have contact with the Europeans until the early 1900’s, although there is evidence of involvement with Swahili slave traders for centuries.
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