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.

Serpents are often connected with women, fertility, good and evil.

Possibly a snake head and neck attached to human shoulders and body, and decorated with incised cuts. From the back of the snake's head, there is a flat, flaring protrusion that ends approximately half way down the trunk of the human body. The figure's arms bend backwards at the elbow position and bend again at the lower trunk area of the body and continue to ground where they become feet. Two faces in the breast location. The face on the figure's left has eyes, a nose, and a mouth with teeth visible, and also has an incised design. The face on the figure's right has eyes, a nose, and a mouth withouth teeth. On the left side, a snake's body bends and directs itself towards the front ankle on the right. The snake ends in a head with eyes and a nose, on the left. Lower side of the body on the right has a small knob protrusion, a belly button? On left lower body, there is a large 'w' shaped protrusion on a lighter-coloured wood base.