Watch "Sowei mask: spirit of Sierra Leone"
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Quick Facts
| Release Date | March 1, 2013 |
| Status | Released |
| Language | EN |
Sowei mask: spirit of Sierra Leone
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Overview
Unique to the region around Sierra Leone, sowei masks are worn by senior members of the all-female Sande Society during rite-of-passage ceremonies that signify a girl's transition to adulthood. Each mask has an individual personality and is given a name which is revealed in a dream. For many years the name of this mask was lost. However, in a special ceremony in January 2013 members of the Sierra Leonean diaspora community in London gave the mask a new name: Gbavo, meaning ‘crowd-puller’ or ‘to attract people’s attention’. The newly-named mask was then formally re-presented to the British Museum.
Status: Released
Language: EN