Independence · 1961–1990
Masks,societiesandfaith
The Sande (Bondo) and Poro societies and their masquerades, nomoli and minsereh figures, and the churches and mosques. Pictures of society matters stay behind a notice, out of respect.
Many were made by colonial officials, missionaries and foreign visitors. Titles and descriptions come from the collections that hold them and can carry the attitudes and language of their time. We show them as historical records, not as endorsements. Dates, eras and categories were assigned automatically from those records and some will be wrong. If you or your family appear in a picture, you hold rights to one, a detail is wrong, or you think a picture should not be here, press “Report this picture” under it: your note reaches our editors with the picture attached, and they can take it down straight away. You can also write to hello@dt-ets.com.
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Young neighbor dressed up to celebrate his secret society intiation, Kabala, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (464615085) 1967
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
American missionary couple with residents of Bafodia, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (2098796682) 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sierra Leone credentials to the EC 1971 1971
European Communities · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Soapstone figure, blackened Collected by 1971
Original title: Soapstonefigur, figure, sculpture
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask, Sewa Mende Collected by 1971
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wooden figure of a woman, Temne Collected by 1971
Original title: Kvinnofigur
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom pulley carved as a head with a snake Collected by 1972
Original title: Loom, fabric
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cloth 1982
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask with crested hair, Mende Collected by 1983
Original title: hjälmmask, Hjämmask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask with braided coiffure In the museum by 1973
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Statuette In the museum by 1974
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Temne. Ode-Lay Mask Brooklyn Museum Mid-20th century, probably 1960s
Temne people · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture