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.

Early commercial Makonde sculpture primarily consisted of naturalistic pieces and copies of well known Kenyan woodcarvings. In the mid-1950's, around Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's main city, sculptors began carving Shetani spirits or creatures. These images proved to be commercially successful.

Columnar, nude, kneeling human figure. Hair is incised and face is scarified in geometrical patterns. Has crescent-shaped eyes, a flattened nose, and small ears with facial features that are naturally proportioned. Arms held against the sides where the hands almost meet over the stomach. Torso shape is elongated. Legs fold back on the thighs, the knees meet, and the elongated feet are separated on the base to balance the figure.