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Cultural Context

performance; dancing

Iconographic Meaning

Maiden spirts represent delicate beauty and the feminine character. The spiritual and moral qualities of young women are idealized through exaggerated small features and a pale complexion.

History Of Use

The masks are performed by men as masqueraders for middle grade initiation in the men’s secret society. They are also danced at festivals during the dry season to promote abundant harvest and at funerals of prominent members of society to escort the dead to the spirit world. The dancers mime the graceful movements and deportment of young women and sing in praise of both real and spirit maidens. The elaborate upper section is meant to portray nineteenth century ceremonial hairstyles that evoke wealth and royalty.

Narrative

Acquired by Alan Sawyer from Saja Tunkara in 1975.

Description

Mmwo helmet mask, depicts a female face with an elaborate headdress. Face is coloured dark cream with raised dark brown lines down the centre of the forehead and across brow ridges. Additional lines highlight the eyes, mouth, cheeks, nostrils and ears. Dark brown dots painted down length of the nose. Hair is done in dark brown and has incised spirals and lines throughout. Headdress is on the top centre of the head. Left and right sides consist of rows of tiered, rounded triangles, protruding outward. Three tall arches in centre. Smaller, outer arches are identical, with mostly hollow interiors except for a wavy line through the middle. Central arch has a large semi-circle in the middle, with circle decorations protruding from the edges, connecting it to the arch. Square cut-outs along edges of all arches, where crescent-shaped pieces are inserted. Headdress is painted dark brown with dark cream highlights. Holes through mask for the eyes, mouth and ears. Interior of mask is undecorated.