Figure

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.

Three heads: two human and one bird-like, and a toad. Top human head has incised hair, large extended ears, oval eyes, a broad flat nose, a mouth, and an incised beard. Back of the head is flat and diagonal. Upper head faces to the left and rests on top of the lower head which faces forward and has incised hair, a high forehead, heavy lidded eyes, large low cheeks, a broad flat nose, and heavy fluted lips. On the left of the lower head, there is a bird's head which is round and has incised circular eyes with a long narrow beak that extends downward. To the right of the bird's head, there is the back of a frog-like creature viewed from above: head and upper limbs bend and end next to the head; lower limbs bend and end next to the base.