The Makonde people of southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique have created some of Africa’s most compelling sculptures. Known for their dramatic Shetani (spirit) figures and towering Ujamaa (family tree) poles, Makonde carvers transform blocks of African blackwood (mpingo) into works of extraordinary power.
At the Market, we carry pieces from master carvers who have dedicated their lives to this ancient tradition. Each sculpture is unique — carved from a single piece of wood without moulds or templates — and carries the spiritual energy that the Makonde believe inhabits the material itself.
