Unit Three: Studying Africa through the Humanities

Module Twelve: African Art

Student's Edition

Sande Masquerades: Teaching Inner and Outer Beauty

Figure 1 and 2: A Sowei masquerade. This mask is named Muma, or "Unity" and was carved in 1954. Photo by Ruth Phillips

Figure 3: Sande Masks in the collection of the Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA

Figure 4: Two young students during sitting between two Sande officials. Photo by Ruth Phillips.

Figure 5-7: A playful performance by a Sande masquerader. Photo by Ruth Phillips

Figure 8: Profile of a Sande mask with a snake and bird motif on top of the hairdo.