Lipico Explained

A lipico or lipiko (plural : mapico or mapiko) is a mask or helmet of the Makonde of Mozambique.

Uses

Mapico masks are worn for ceremonial dances during the rites of passage of circumcised boys called mapico dances.^{[1] [2]} These masks are carved by master craftsmen,^[3] they are made of soft wood and often feature human hair. They represent faces of men or women with labrets or scarifications.^[4]

References

Notes and References

1. Le Musée des arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie, 1999, p.89
2. Kristian Fenzl, Peter Baum, Makonde: "mapiko", Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz, Wolfgang-Gurlitt-Museum, 1997, p. 178
3. Arts d'Afrique noire, 1990, p.42
4. Revue du Louvre: la revue des musées de France, 1998, p.106