Among the Mende people of Sierra Leone, young girls are initiated into adulthood by participating in the Sande society, a women's secret society that trains girls in the skills they need to live as productive women. The Sande masks reflect the ideal of feminine beauty, and embody the protective spirit, bondo. The neck rings on this mask are said to mimic those of a chrysalis, a butterfly's cocoon, and symbolize the metamorphosis of the young initiates into beautiful, powerful Mende women.