Art of Africa | Art History | Khan Academy - Bundu / Sowei Helmet Mask (Mende peoples)
Explore Timeless Artifacts: Journey Through Global Art History's Secrets
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31 learners
What you'll learn
Understand the historical and cultural significance of various art pieces from different societies.
Recognize key elements and techniques characteristic of diverse art forms and artifacts.
Analyze how art reflects and communicates the values and beliefs of its originating cultures.
Explore the role and influence of traditional art in contemporary cultural contexts.
Bundu or Sowei Helmet Mask (Ndoli Jowei), Mende, Nguabu Master (Moyamba district, Sierra Leone), late 19th-early 20th century, wood and pigment, 39.4 x 23.5 x 26 cm (Brooklyn Museum) Speakers: Dr. Peri Klemm and Dr. Steven Zucker
Sowei refers most specifically to medicine—the kind of medicine that female healers/herbalists utilize. Embodied in this idea of medicine is a spiritual force. The mask, when danced, is a visual expression of this spirit. The term also refers to the custodian of the medicine — a Sande official.
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