Makonde art

A special genre of traditional ritual Makonde art is the characteristic Mapiko masks (singular: Lipiko). These have been used in tribal dances accompanying coming-of-age rituals since before contact with missionaries in the 20th century. These masks represented shetani spirits, ancestors, or living characters (real or idealized). The masks were made of both hard or soft wood, and often included hair or fibers, where hair would go. The masks include beeswax patterns to represent scarification. Makonde masks may have human or animal features, or a combination of both. Makonde masks depicting females include lip plugs and ear spools, while male masks include facial hair. 'Devil masks,' depicting malevolent spirits, are typically human faces with the inclusion of horns. == Rites of passage ==

The purpose of the masks was to characterize evil spirits during rites of passage ceremonies. == Post-Colonialization ==

In the 1930s, Portuguese colonizers and other missionaries arrived at the Mueda plateau in Northern Mozambique. After the introduction of road systems in the plateaus between Tanzania and Mozambique by Portuguese troops during World War I, the traditional practices began to shift to meet new social and economic demands. Portuguese forced labor and taxes had prompted Makonde carvers in Mozambique to expand past the practices of traditional woodcarving. The Portuguese showed great interest in the Makonde wood carvings and began to order different pieces, from religious pieces to political “eminences.” The Makonde sculptors began to carve sculptures in a new style, using pau-preto (ebony wood, Diospyros ebenum) and pau-rosa (Swartzia sapini) instead of the soft wood they had used before. mask Since the 1930s, the Modern Makonde Art has been developing in Tanzania. An essential step away from the traditional sculptures was the creation of abstract figures, called Shetani in Swahili language, representing mostly evil spirits. The shetani play a special role in Swahili popular beliefs. This shetani style was created in the early 1950s by master carver Samaki Likankoa. Likankoa's patron, Mohamed Peera, an art curator in Dar es Salaam, played an instrumental and decisive role in further influencing the modern Makonde art movement. Some Makonde sculptors, including George Lugwani, have embraced a fully abstract style of carving without discernible figures. Since the 1970s, Modern Makonde Art has become part of the internationally recognized contemporary art of Africa. One of the most acknowledged artists is George Lilanga, who started with carvings and became famous as a modern painter. Makonde sculptors originally from Mozambique, but displaced in Tanzania, supported the resistance towards colonial regime in Mozambique. As early as 1959, Makonde people in Dar es Salaam helped create a nationalist organization (MANU) that later became part of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO). == Types of Modern Makonde art ==

Ujamaa or Tree of life Roberto Yakobo Sangwani left his home Mozambique and headed for Tanzania in the late 1950s. With him he brought a style of Makonde art formally known as Dimoongo, meaning ‘power of strength’ or ‘tree of life’. Traditionally these sculptures portrayed clusters of connected wrestlers holding up a winning victor. Gradually, the main figure shifted to represent tribal heads or people in unity with community members or family. Regardless of who the central figure of a sculpture is, the organization of this style represents one central figure, surrounded by and supported by other figures. These figures exemplify ujamaa (communal unity) or relationships in a community and bring forth the underlying reverence the Makonde have for their ancestors or society. Shetani Shetani style woodcarvings (“devil” in Swahili) are expressions of Makonde mythology and spirits. This style uses the appearance of otherworldly physical traits, like large, distorted facial or body features, sometimes of animals, to signify the spiritual realm. The essence of Shetani is thought to take five forms: human, mammal, fish, bird, and reptile. In some sculptures, there are also culturally significant symbols, like a mother's breasts or calabashes, used to carry water. Binadamu Binadamu, a naturalistic type, captures the essence of Makonde social roles. Most common are depictions of men smoking and women fulfilling household chores. After Portuguese occupation, many locals began to prioritize the craft and create figures embodying the daily lives of Makonde men and women to appeal to Western taste. == Gallery of modern Makonde carvings ==

Image:Makonde carving_2.jpg|Makonde Binadamu sculpture Image:Makonde sculpture Elephant.jpg|Makonde Shetani sculpture Image:Makonde sculpture Ujamaa detail.jpg|Makonde Ujamaa sculpture detail Image:Lugwani.jpg|An abstract carving by George Lugwani in mpingo ==See also==