African Fine Arts - AFRICAN-ART

Makonde Body Mask - Tanzania/Mozambique
Among the Makonde of south-eastern Tanzania initiation is still one of the most important ritual cycles. Both boys and girls must undergo a period of seclusion, generally six months, during which they learn songs and dances and are taught various practical activities. The initiation rites involve male circumcision and indoctrination into the secrets of gender. Everyone is taught the rules of adult behavior, about sex and about the rights and obligations of married life. The celebrations that accompany the coming-out ceremonies involve feasting, dance and the masquerades of the midimu (sing. ndimu) spirit makers. The female body mask was part of the costume of a special ndimu masker called amwalindembo that was intended to represent a young pregnant woman. It was usually carved with a swollen abdomen decorated with the typical Makonde raised tattoos applied with beeswax (in this case carved in relief) and was always worn by a male masquerader together with a matching female facemask. The amwalindembo performed a sedate dance usually accompanied by a male ndimu masker, which dramatized the agonies of childbirth. Although the body mask is no longer used today, dramatic scenes depicting various aspects of community life continue to be performed by masked or maskless performers during the celebrations.