Carving

The Makonde were a matriarchal, agricultural society. Traditionally, it is thought, the sculpture of the Makonde was restricted to ceremonial and ritual goods. Shetani spirits or creatures, now seen in contemporary Makonde sculpture, were probably unknown before the advent of commercial art production in the mid-1950's. Tales of encounters with these rarely seen spirits or creatures were part of Makonde mythology and folklore and may have served as artistic inspiration for the pieces.

Commercial art.

Serpents were usually associated with departed ancestors or spirits and were thought to be able to transmit power from these to the living.

Carved human torso supported by one leg and surmounted by a giraffe head grasping in its mouth a bent descending limb of a central reptilian creature. Second limb of reptilian creature is bent down, ending in an elongated face (snake ?) grasping the hind part of the human torso. Elongated mouth of the reptilian creature is swallowing a serpent which curves down to a human leg. The two bent limbs are joined by a human arm and a hand. Small, lighter patches of wood on square base, attached loosely to larger base of different wood.