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Mende / Bassa Female Helmet Mask, Sierra Leone / Liberia #891Mende Bassa Sowei Helmet Mask, Sierra Leone Liberia #891 Sowei Mask used by the exclusively female Sande (Mende) or Bondo Bundu (Temne) Societies. In sub Saharan Africa, traditionally only men are permitted on Ritual Occasions to dance wooden masks. The practice of Women wearing masks seems to have been brought to several populations of Sierra Leone and Liberia, such as the Temne, Gola and Vai, by the Mende and Mande speaking People from the Northern
- Mende / Bassa Sowei Helmet Mask, Sierra Leone / Liberia #891
- Sowei Mask used by the exclusively female Sande (Mende) or Bondo/Bundu (Temne) Societies.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, traditionally only men are permitted on Ritual Occasions to dance wooden masks. The practice of Women wearing masks seems to have been brought to several populations of Sierra Leone and Liberia, such as the Temne, Gola and Vai, by the Mende and Mande-speaking People from the Northern Savannah.
- Sande / Bundu Society Masks, created in the 19th and 20th centuries in Sierra Leone and Liberia, were crafted by men, but danced only by Women during Initiation Masquerades. These Masks represent the Importance of Women in Mende Society, as well as the emphasis on adhering to the Ideal of a Young Mende Woman.
- This type of Helmet Mask is worn exclusively by Women belonging to Female-led Sande (Mende) or Bondo / Bundu (Temne) Societies. 'Bundu' – or, more correctly, 'Bondo' – is the Temne name for the Women's Society known as Sande in Mende-speaking areas of Sierra Leone.
- The Sande / Bundu Society initiates girls into adulthood by Rituals said by its supporters to confer fertility, to instill notions of morality and proper sexual comportment, and to maintain an interest in the well-being of its Members throughout their lives.
- The Mask is divided into four parts: the ringed neck, the face, the hair, and the head ornamentation. "The neck rings are a sign of beauty, wealth, and status in the adult. They reflect waves on the surface of the water as the Goddess Sowo rises up (Boone 13). It signifies Divinity, and is almost an Icon by itself, like the halo in a Christian painting (Boone). It is also possible that the rings represent the chrysalis of the moth or butterfly, since the neighboring people, the Temne, associates the Sowei Spirit with the chrysalis of the butterfly. The imitation ensures their metamorphosis from girls to mature women." - Radiance from the Waters: Ideals of Feminine Beauty in Mende Art. Sylvia Ardyn Boone. Yale University Press, 1986
- Sowei Masks are worn by Senior Members of the All-Female Society during these Rite-of-Passage Ceremonies that Signify a Girl's Transition to Adulthood. The Mask presents an Ideal of Feminine Beauty admired by the Mende and related Ethnic Groups.
- SOWO is the Goddess / Spirit connecting Women to Water Spirits, and attests to the Creative Power of Both. The Power of the Mask is in the Spirit, Sowo (also known as Nowo or Sowei), a Water Goddess. The Mask Wearer gives up her own identity to evoke the Spirit, Sowo, by putting the Mask on her head to make the Spirit come to life. The Sowo spirit is present to escort the girls into initiation and provide guidance while they are in training. This spirit stays with them through the emergence into adulthood and marriage. The female masker appears at the time of female circumcision, which is the greatest single act of female initiation. It is said the Mask mesmerizes the young girls and relieves the pain of the operation. The Mask represents all that a woman should be: wise, elegant, and serene.
- Sowei (plural Soweis) are understood as the Guardian Spirits of a Sande / Bundu Society, who is represented by this type of special Helmet-like Mask. sacred mask of the
- The Mask is traditionally worn by a high-ranking member of the society, the dancing Sowei, known as the 'Ndoli Jowei' among the Mende or 'a-Nowo' among the Temne. The wearer (who has to be a powerful dancer and an Official of the Village Sande Society) puts on a thick cotton costume, usually trousers and shirt covered with heavy fibre strands dyed black. The Helmet Mask worn on top of the head of the Sowei Dancer, is accompanied by raffia, attached through holes drilled around the bottom, as well as the woven cloth. The Mask serves as the Visual Connection to the Spiritual World, and the Sande/ Bundu Society's Officials' faces and bodies are not visible, and thus conceal any Human Attributes.
- Her dances may last for over two hours.
- Sowei Helmet Masks typically have a polished black finish, with neck rings, elaborate coiffure and dignified facial expression. The mask is thought to represent conceptions of Idealized Womanhood.
- Because of the similarity of mask styles, and the itinerant pathways of noted carvers, it is difficult to assign some masks to a particular Ethnic Group for whom they were created.
- With increasingly rigorous Islamisation of these Villages, however, the Sande Society is being seriously modified or even disbanded.
- Measurements: 42cm; approx 16.6" height
- Provenance: M. Zambou, Senegal
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4.9 ★★★★★
Based on 19 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
its a great ball
works well
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Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Love this set!!!
Size: Medium (2.5"), Style: Fetch Pack 1
I was trying to figure out which of the many different balls this company offers, and I was getting frustrated but then i was SOOOO happy to see they had multiple sets that had multiple of the different balls they offer!! I bought this set and the other set they offer, but this one was my favorite and I think my dogs too! The orange ball works great and bounces just high enough that it doesn’t clear our patio wall, but enough for him to go and jump up to retrieve. But the glow in the dark ball is his favorite! Both me and my pomsky were blown away how we brought the glow in the dark ball outside just as the sun was going down, and when we brought it back inside it was BRIGHT AND GLOWY!!! Even with the sun going down and not much light left!! He loves to play with it in the house after it’s all glowy from the sun. Sometimes we even glow it up under a light inside the house if it’s dark outside, and he will play with it outside in the dark haha he loves it!!! And I think it’s pretty cool too!! All of the balls this company overs are VERY durable! We realized early on that we cannot give our dog regular tennis balls cuz his favorite thing to do is tear the outside fabric off!! So we were trying to figure out what company has the best balls for dogs so they can’t sit there and try to pry them apart, and we found this company!! We have already bought from them about 3 times and all of their balls are durable and bounce how they say they will bounce!! They have the super bouncers and the glow in the dark one and the one with angles that will bounce in different directions and the ones you can throw REALLYY far! Overall, all the balls from this company are very durable, bounce really good, and keep my dog occupied without allowing him to sit there and tear it apart!!! Which i love cuz I do not like when he stops playing with us to sit there and try to take off the fabric, cuz then he could swallow it! So always buy the balls from this company!!! They are the best and most durable!!!! Also plenty soft for your dogs mouth so they can chew on it a bit and it won’t hurt their teeth/gums!
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Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2024
★★★★★ 5
Good sturdy balls
Size: Medium (2.5"), Style: Fetch Pack 2
My dogs love balls! Unfortunately, they tend to chew them up very quickly. My Belgium Malinois chews on this all the time, and it has held up pretty well. Good option for chewers
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Fetch Perfection
Size: Medium (2.5"), Style: Fetch Pack 2
If you’re anything like me, fetch is the ultimate game with your furry companion. The Chuckit! Dog Fetch Ball Medley has taken our playtime to the next level with its variety and durability. This 3-pack of medium-sized, ultra-rugged balls is perfect for endless games of fetch without worrying about wear and tear.
I love how each ball has a unique texture and color, keeping my dog engaged and excited every time. The medium size is just right for energetic dogs, allowing for long throws and big leaps. Plus, the rugged design means these balls can withstand even the most enthusiastic chewers and rough play sessions, making them a great investment for active pets.
However, the vibrant colors can sometimes make them easy to lose in green grass or sandy beaches, but a good game of hide-and-seek with your dog is a small price to pay for such fantastic fetch balls. Additionally, while they’re durable, no ball is completely indestructible, so occasional replacements might be necessary for the most aggressive players.
Overall, the Chuckit! Dog Fetch Ball Medley is a must-have for any dog owner looking to enhance their playtime. They’re fun, durable, and keep both you and your dog entertained for hours. A solid 5-star rating for their quality and variety, with a tiny star lost to their occasionally elusive colors.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024
★★★★★ 5
great ball!
Size: Medium (2.5"), Style: Fetch Pack 2
My pitbull LOVES these. She is a power chewer and tough on balls and toys and tends to go through them insanely quick. She is still on her first ball out of this pack and its been at least two months. It is a little small for her mouth but she doesn’t seem to mind, as it has quickly become one of her favorites. Not a loud ball and it doesn’t usually make that wet chewy noise when shes going to town on it which is huge for me😂😂 Safe for my pittie so i’d imagine a smaller dog would be just fine.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2026