Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What does the black Mende Sande mask represent?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
African art
Raffia-fiber cloth, made by the Kuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, mid-20th century; in the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
The black helmet-shaped masks used by the Mende people of Sierra Leone represent a water spirit.1
These masks are central to the Sande society, a rare example of a women's society that utilizes masks to facilitate the education and initiation of girls into womanhood. Beyond the representation of a water spirit, the mask also signifies the transformative process through which young girls become beautiful and powerful women.1