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.

Half-human and half-bird figure (part a) with a weapon (part b). Elongated forehead slopes up to form a peak. Brow is a pronounced ridge over recessed eyes. Nose slopes out to the mouth which is deeply cut, producing a beak-like appearance when viewed in profile. The arm on the right ends in a hand holding a weapon (part b), machete ?, the limb on the left appears as a clipped wing with deep longitudinal striations. The body narrows to a waist. Below the waist in the front, there is a cone shape, and to the rear, there is a long flat protrusion, like a bird's tail; these areas are incised. Figure stands on a single medial leg which terminates in a broad flat two-toed foot. On a lighter-coloured wood base.