MENDE - GONGOLI Mask ( Sierra Leone ).
Mid 20th century
Mid 20th century
One of the maskers found throughout Mende country is the much beloved clowns Gongoli.
The Gongoli represents the anti-aesthetic in the context of Mende masking. Gongoli overturn all the
conventions of costume and behavior carefully observed by the other maskers. The raffia is thin and
inadequately covers their bodies. The Gongoli headpiece is badly carved and ugly, and is allowed to
become dusty, broken, and insect eaten.
To the laughter of the crowd, Gongoli goes about proclaiming in his deep rasping voice the he is
handsome of all the Haleisia.
The Gongoli represents the anti-aesthetic in the context of Mende masking. Gongoli overturn all the
conventions of costume and behavior carefully observed by the other maskers. The raffia is thin and
inadequately covers their bodies. The Gongoli headpiece is badly carved and ugly, and is allowed to
become dusty, broken, and insect eaten.
To the laughter of the crowd, Gongoli goes about proclaiming in his deep rasping voice the he is
handsome of all the Haleisia.