Masking in Mende Sande Society Initiation Rituals
- 1 July 1978
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Africa
- Vol. 48 (3) , 265-277
- https://doi.org/10.2307/1158468
Abstract
Opening Paragraph: Public masquerades constitute extremely important symbolic forms among the Mende of Sierra Leone. Masquerades are a means of mediating between the secret Societies which dominate Mende social life and the general community. Through masking performances the public is kept informed of important events which occur in the secret domain and is allowed carefully limited participation in the experience of Society members. The masquerades make visible the powerful ‘medicines’ (haleisia) of the secret Societies without revealing their essential mystery. Maskers personify and dramatize the powers of the ‘medicines’ and exact respect and tribute from the spectators. At the same time, participants and audience are drawn into a common experience, which is aesthetically heightened by techniques of theatre, dance, music, and the plastic arts. The resultant feeling of unity and harmony helps to overcome the threat of disunity implicit in the division of the community into separate secret factions.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mende and Sherbro Women in High OfficeCanadian Journal of African Studies / Revue Canadienne des Études Africaines, 1972
- The Mende of Sierra LeoneAfrican Historical Studies, 1968
- THE ROLE OF THE SECRET SOCIETY IN CULTURAL SPECIALIZATION1American Anthropologist, 1949
- A Transformed ColonyBulletin of the American Geographical Society, 1910