Definition of Makonde in English:
Makonde
nounPlural Makondes məˈkɒndeɪməˈkändā
1A member of a people inhabiting southern Tanzania and north-eastern Mozambique.
Example sentencesExamples
- Throughout the late colonial period, many Makonde fled the Portuguese regime, taking refuge in what was then Tanganyika across the Rovuma River border.
- He saw a photograph of a sculpture by the Makonde of East Africa.
- Farther north are the Makonde near the coast and the Yao near Lake Malawi.
- One of the most important events in the life of a Makonde was initiation.
- I could only surmise that these Makonde had taken Swahili names to ease their assimilation into coastal society, creating confusion among non-resident park officials.
2mass noun The Bantu language of the Makonde, with about 1 million speakers.
Example sentencesExamples
- The existence of a standardized orthography for either Yao or Makonde is unknown to us as of this writing.
adjective məˈkɒndeɪməˈkändā
Relating to the Makonde or their language.
Example sentencesExamples
- This powerful Makonde mask with large rabbit ears, oval eyes and prominent teeth measures 16 1/2’ in height.
- These artists came to enjoy privileged status in Makonde society as demand grew within the church for their work.
- As you will see on this website, their is much more to Makonde art then these traditional Mapiko masks.
- A white-jacketed Makonde waiter brought plates mounded with chicken and rice cooked over a fire.
- The Makonde practice initiation ceremonies that integrate young people into the adult world through links with ancestors and supernatural beings.
- Nonetheless, in speaking to the world beyond, Makonde carvers employ a language of images grounded in their unique historical experience.