Art of Africa | Art History | Khan Academy - Sowei mask: spirit of Sierra Leone
Explore Timeless Artifacts: Journey Through Global Art History's Secrets
4.0(3)
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.
Naming the Sowei mask
Unique to the region around Sierra Leone, sowei masks are worn by senior members of the all-female Sande Society during rite-of-passage ceremonies that signify a girl's transition to adulthood. This display explores the cultural interaction that influenced the mask's form and examines the ubiquity of sowei masks in museums around the world.
Before going on display, members of the Sierra Leonean community in London asked that they conduct a ceremony to give the mask a name.
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