Fertility Body Mask

The female body mask from the Makonde tribe in Tanzania played an essential role in initiation rites, being part of the costume of the mask dancer “Ndimu”, specifically the “amwalin-dembo” representing a pregnant woman. Used in the important ceremony of the initiation cycle, this unique mask accompanies a matching feminine mask. Dated from the 20th century, carved from natural wood and measuring 12.5x24x43.5 cm, it embodies the dancer's dramatic dance, symbolizing the anxieties of childbirth through a fascinating performance.