An authentic Makonde Shetani (spirit) sculpture. Carved by Francis Lupapa in Dar es Salaam circa 2006 typically of the Makonde tribe of southeastern Tanzania, this style represents a highly celebrated movement in East African modern art. Its dimensions 63cms tall by 28cms wide weighing 3.9kg make it a large and impressive example of the craft

In Swahili, Shetani translates to "spirit" or "devil". Unlike the packed, realistic figures of Ujamaa (Family Tree) carvings, Shetani sculptures explore Makonde mythology through dreamlike, abstract shapes. Carvers traditionally use distorted, fluid anatomies—such as elongated limbs, hollow eyes, and twisting forms—to visually convey the unseen, shapeshifting nature of the spirit realm.

The sculpture is crafted from Mpingo (African Blackwood), an incredibly dense and heavy native hardwood prized by Makonde masters. The natural heartwood turns a rich, deep black when polished, contrasting beautifully against any raw, lighter sapwood left at the base.