Mende Sowo Helmet Mask

The sowo mask is a part of the female Sande society and is representative of the transition from girlhood to womanhood. At the age of thirteen girls embark on a series of tasks that teach them the responsibilities and obligations of becoming a woman. At the end of initiation ceremonies girls wear these masks and dance in front on the village embodying the female ideal. The woodcarvings, in a stylized form, are an idealization of feminine beauty standards, as well as symbols of the personality traits women must embody in adulthood. Neck rings represent wealth, a high forehead denotes wisdom, downcast eyes and a small mouth indicate virtuousness and the overall serene expression symbolizes a generous and kind personality. When girls don these masks they mark their eligibility for marriage but also the ability to take on important political, economic, and social roles.