Learning through objects from the Islington Education Library Service’s handling collection
Makishi Figure, Zambia
This figure represents an ancestral spirit known as a
Makishi. It was made by the Chokwe people who live in the
south-west region of Africa in parts of Angola, the Democratic
Republic of Congo and Zambia. This figure was probably made quite
recently for sale to tourists. It is not for "traditional" use and
does not resemble any one character. Instead, it has some the
features of two ancestral spirits - Katotola and Mupala.
The Chokwe people believe that the spirits of people who died long ago can influence their lives. Men dress up as these spirits, putting on masks and fringed skirts, painting their faces and carrying sticks or weapons. This figure is brandishing two sticks called kukuwa, which symbolise the bones of ancestors. It appears to be dancing and playing the sticks. The patterns on the body, the fringed skirt and the mask of the Makishi figure are like those worn by a man dressed for his part in an initiation ceremony. In this traditional, secret ceremony, teenage boys are circumcised and learn about adult life.
The figure is made from woven strips of plastic over a wire frame. It is surprisingly light in weight.
The Chokwe people believe that the spirits of people who died long ago can influence their lives. Men dress up as these spirits, putting on masks and fringed skirts, painting their faces and carrying sticks or weapons. This figure is brandishing two sticks called kukuwa, which symbolise the bones of ancestors. It appears to be dancing and playing the sticks. The patterns on the body, the fringed skirt and the mask of the Makishi figure are like those worn by a man dressed for his part in an initiation ceremony. In this traditional, secret ceremony, teenage boys are circumcised and learn about adult life.
The figure is made from woven strips of plastic over a wire frame. It is surprisingly light in weight.
Height:42cm
This figure combines the features of two ancestral spirits /
masked characters - Katotola and Mupala. Katotola plays the
kukuwa sticks in ceremonies. The sticks symbolize the bones
of the ancestors. Katotola beats the sticks together and performs a
rhythmic dance. Mupala's headdress is attached to the back of the
mask and rises up from the head in a curved arch. It is painted red
and white, though the design is different to the figure's striped
pattern. In fact the painted stripes on this figure's body are
unusual in that they are not traditional Chokwe
markings.
Both of these masked characters take part in the mukanda, the Chokwe initiation ceremony for males. When boys are around 13-16 years old, they go through a series of rituals and ceremonies to equip them for adult life. At the beginning of the mukanda, men representing Mupala and Katotola and other masked characters arrive in the village, striking their sticks together and crying 'we-he we-he' to announce their arrival in the village. At the sound of the beating sticks and shrieking spirits, women and children flee into their dwellings as they are not allowed to take part in the ceremony. Then the masked figures seek out those boys who are ready to be initiated, and lead them to a secret camp in the forest. There the boys are circumcised and learn the skills they need for adult life. Young boys play the kukuwa sticks inside the initiation camp, beating one against the other during sunrise and sunset to honour the ancestors.
Men representing Akishi (ancestral spirits) stay with the boys in the camp and act as their guardians and teachers. There is an aura of great secrecy around the camp. The boys are not allowed to come into contact with people outside the camp. Akishi go to the village to collect food. When the boys leave the camp to hunt or wash they are always accompanied by a masked figure so that other people do not approach them.
Both of these masked characters take part in the mukanda, the Chokwe initiation ceremony for males. When boys are around 13-16 years old, they go through a series of rituals and ceremonies to equip them for adult life. At the beginning of the mukanda, men representing Mupala and Katotola and other masked characters arrive in the village, striking their sticks together and crying 'we-he we-he' to announce their arrival in the village. At the sound of the beating sticks and shrieking spirits, women and children flee into their dwellings as they are not allowed to take part in the ceremony. Then the masked figures seek out those boys who are ready to be initiated, and lead them to a secret camp in the forest. There the boys are circumcised and learn the skills they need for adult life. Young boys play the kukuwa sticks inside the initiation camp, beating one against the other during sunrise and sunset to honour the ancestors.
Men representing Akishi (ancestral spirits) stay with the boys in the camp and act as their guardians and teachers. There is an aura of great secrecy around the camp. The boys are not allowed to come into contact with people outside the camp. Akishi go to the village to collect food. When the boys leave the camp to hunt or wash they are always accompanied by a masked figure so that other people do not approach them.
Height:42cm
This figure represents an ancestral spirit known as a
Makishi. It was made by the Chokwe people who live in the
south-west region of Africa in parts of Angola, the Democratic
Republic of Congo and Zambia. This figure was probably made quite
recently for sale to tourists. It is not for "traditional" use and
does not resemble any one character. Instead, it has some the
features of two ancestral spirits - Katotola and Mupala.
The Chokwe people believe that the spirits of people who died long ago can influence their lives. Men dress up as these spirits, putting on masks and fringed skirts, painting their faces and carrying sticks or weapons. This figure is brandishing two sticks called kukuwa, which symbolise the bones of ancestors. It appears to be dancing and playing the sticks. The patterns on the body, the fringed skirt and the mask of the Makishi figure are like those worn by a man dressed for his part in an initiation ceremony. In this traditional, secret ceremony, teenage boys are circumcised and learn about adult life.
The figure is made from woven strips of plastic over a wire frame. It is surprisingly light in weight.
The Chokwe people believe that the spirits of people who died long ago can influence their lives. Men dress up as these spirits, putting on masks and fringed skirts, painting their faces and carrying sticks or weapons. This figure is brandishing two sticks called kukuwa, which symbolise the bones of ancestors. It appears to be dancing and playing the sticks. The patterns on the body, the fringed skirt and the mask of the Makishi figure are like those worn by a man dressed for his part in an initiation ceremony. In this traditional, secret ceremony, teenage boys are circumcised and learn about adult life.
The figure is made from woven strips of plastic over a wire frame. It is surprisingly light in weight.
- Term:
- Description:
- Akishi
- Ancestral spirits - the spirits of dead people that return to the world of the living to guide, assist, protect and even educate members of a community on important occasions.
- Ancestral spirit
- The spirit of someone who is long dead.
- Chokwe
- A nation of African people who live in parts of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
- Circumcised
- The removal of all or part of the foreskin. In many cultures circumcision forms part of a ceremony initiating boys into adult life.
- Initiation ceremony
- Rituals performed during the change from childhood to adult status, where adolescents are educated in the duties of adulthood and may undergo circumcision.
- Kukuwa
- Sticks that symbolize the bones of ancestors. They are played by beating the sticks together and are used by masked characters and boys in the initiation camp, at ceremonies and events.
