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 family tree was carved from a single piece of solid ebony wood. The color of the figures is not stained - the wood when polished yields a shiny black finish. The figure intricately illustrates many people climbing above each other. The actual bark of the ebony tree was left intact, its light color forming a beautiful spiraling contrast to the polished ebony beneath. This unique piece required many many hours of carving at the hands of its creator. Ref.: Prestel, Phillips Ref.: Stepan