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.

Stylized figurative carving in black wood. Slightly bent figure has two horns with a carved spiral design on a large head; gaping hole in flawed wood for mouth, two eyes; round bulging eye on left in conventional position; eye on right incorporated into long trunk-like appendage which terminates in nostrils. On the right limb-like appendage which grows out of waist area and bends downward at a 45 degree angle to end in a two pronged hand. Nostrils of trunk-like appendage touch angle of limb. On left slender arm reaches up to base of horn on left and a long slender leg ending in a foot with five toes. Male genitalia at waist join thick limb-like appendage which narrows and loops at base towards rear ending in two forked appendage joining figure at lower back area.