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.

Stylized figurative carving from black wood. Three figures in vertical assembly: the largest central figure is a standing human form, with a disproportionately large head and a grinning mouth. The body is abstract and elongated with slim limbs. The figure is standing on one leg on a round base with the foot turned backwards. The second leg blends into the body of a slender serpent, which is arched into a "u" shape; head of the serpent faces the figure's face. Arms of the central figure emerge from the back of the head; one arm holds the snake upright below its head. Other arm holds a single winged bird with a serpent's head; sits on main figure's head. Snake and bird/serpent have metal inset eyes.