GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Mende are rice farmers who migrated to Sierra Leone from various African territories in the 16th century and number about two million today. Within Mende chiefdoms, boys and girls are initiated into secret societies and remain members for life. These secret societies, Poro for males and Sande for females, serve as educational institutions that impart and preserve Mende morals and customs. Artworks, especially wooden masks, are created for initiation and healing ceremonies. The masquerade for the Sande society provides a rare instance of African women as maskers.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2009), 303.
NOTES
ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS (list applicable note links)
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- University of Iowa Museum of Art, Art & Life in Africa~Learn more about the Mende peoples.
- Smart History~Read an overview of the peoples and cultures in Africa.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES (digitized/non-digitized)
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
apply to objects where culture contains mende
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rules_operator
AND
General Description
The Mende are rice farmers who migrated to Sierra Leone from various African territories in the 16th century and number about two million today. Within Mende chiefdoms, boys and girls are initiated into secret societies and remain members for life. These secret societies, Poro for males and Sande for females, serve as educational institutions that impart and preserve Mende morals and customs. Artworks, especially wooden masks, are created for initiation and healing ceremonies. The masquerade for the Sande society provides a rare instance of African women as maskers.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2009), 303.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
(digitized/non-digitized)
Web Resources
- University of Iowa Museum of Art, Art & Life in Africa~Learn more about the Mende peoples.
- Smart History~Read an overview of the peoples and cultures in Africa.
Notes
rules
Apply To
Objects
culture
Contains
mende
source file
peoples_and_societies-0031.xml.nores