Representing Woman: Sande Masquerades of the Mende of Sierra Leone

Article number 10173498

A landmark study of Mende Sande masquerades that examines how female initiation, ideals of beauty, and social authority are expressed through masks, performance, and imagery. Drawing on fieldwork, archives, and museum collections, Phillips analyzes the aesthetics and symbolism of sowei masks and related regalia, situating them within Mende history and women’s ritual practice. The volume combines scholarly essays with extensive photographic documentation to reassess earlier literature and present the Fowler Museum’s holdings in cultural context.

Gebruikssporen