The Makonde belong to the Bantu people who originally lived south of Lake Nyassa and later migrated to their present location on the Mueda plateau in northern Mozambique. A great many also migrated across the Ruvuma River during colonial times to work on sisal farms in Tanzania, where they remain. Makonde carvers are prolific producers of masks, statues, and decorative objects. This male and female couple were each carved from a single piece of solid ebony wood, as can be seen by the lighter contrasting color of the outer bark at the base of each statue. The color of the figures is not stained - the wood when polished yields a shiny black finish. These figures were each carved with great sensitivity and detail, each figure resplendent in traditional Masai dress and jewelry, the male wearing traditional warrior/herder garb, and the female wearing traditional clothing and carrying a gourd. Each figure also proudly wears beaded neck ornamentation. These unique pieces required many many hours of carving at the hands of its creator. Ref.: Prestel, Phillips Ref.: Stepan