The Sande mask from Sierra Leone is the only mask used by women in dances in Africa: most societies only have masks to be worn by men. This wooden mask represents the ideal of feminine beauty for the Mende people. It is 478 mm high.
© Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives
Accession reference: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives, E2436
Themes
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Africa before Transatlantic Enslavement
The history of Africa and African people does not begin nor end with transatlantic slavery. Understand what Africa was like and what the continent lost as a result of the trade.
Background Reading
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The Lost Libraries Of Timbuktu
Until recently, many commentators on Africa claimed that African societies had no tradition of writing. With the rediscovery of ancient manuscript collections, some dating back to the 8th century AD, this perception is changing.
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Introduction To Various African Kingdoms