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.

Commercial art.

Figure depicting two humanoid figures, the larger figure standing on one leg, the other leg pointed upward with the foot under the elbow, the figure's chin resting on the head of the smaller figure, and a three-fingered hand clasping the nose of the smaller figure. The smaller figure is in a semi-squatting position with a large open mouth, prominent teeth in the upper jaw, and a delineated rib cage.