Makonde Fertility Ritual Drum
Tribe: Makonde
Country: Tanzania
Material: Wood, Leather.
Condition: Superb
Size: 17.25" (43.8 cm) Tall
Status: Sold ~ Private Collection: Yokohama, Japan
Carved to be held under the arm and used to create rhythm while dancing in the Makonde initiation ceremony fertility dance, where masqueraders wear Matumba body masks and lipico masks in a dance welcoming boys, that have completed their initiation, to manhood.
The Makonde belonging to the Bantu group of people, originally living in Mozambique, but have migrated into Tanzania too. The Makonde identified with the developed sculpture traditions originating from Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. On the high Palteau of Cabo Delgado, more like a fortress than congenial home, the Makonde were both isolated and insulated. The plateau had a thick thorny bush called Konde, hence 'people of konde' or Makonde. Here, they escaped the slave trade and ethnic skirmishes.This province is regarded as the original home of the Makonde. The greater part of the Makonde migration took place between the sencond and thirdquarters of the ninteenth century and occupied the Newala plateau where the majority of the Tanzanian Makonde live today.
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