Makonde Njorowe Pregnant Belly Mask with Face Tanzania

This pregnant belly mask originates from the Makonde people, a group whose mythology and artistic traditions place significant emphasis on the role of women. According to Makonde legend, a man once carved a statue of a woman, only to awaken and discover that the figure had mysteriously come to life. She bore him many children and later became a revered ancestress. This story is deeply tied to the Makonde people's ancestress cult, which venerates female ancestors as central figures of spiritual and cultural importance.

Within the context of Makonde art, female body masks—often depicting the torso with breasts, a pronounced pregnant belly, and sometimes intricate scarification patterns—are symbols of fertility. Such masks were not merely artistic representations but played an active role in rituals and ceremonies. This particular mask was part of the costume worn by a special ndimu masker, known as amwalindembo, who portrayed a young pregnant woman. The mask, typically worn by a male performer, was used in performances that dramatized the trials and challenges of childbirth, underscoring the complexities of reproduction and the reverence for the female form in Makonde cultural practices.

146919