Makonde Sculptures

The Makonde of Tanzania and Mozambique are most noted for their mesmerizing abstract sculptures with fanciful human themes as well as the Tree of Life sculptures some of which derive from the ujamaa (pulling together) period of nation building in Tanzania. The Makonde Work is a vigorous comment on the human life and death in a tribal setting. The most famous traditional sculpture by the Makonde is a mask with intricate tribal markings, often with in-laid human hair.