Nigeria & Other Regions
Wood mask, 'Horn'
This magnificent mask originates from the people of Yoruba in Nigeria. Over time, the mask's style has been added upon by other regions on the continent - providing new decorative materials such as beads and brass.
Wood mask, 'Crowned by Ducks'
Ducks crown an enigmatic visage, whose mouth turns down in a frown. Stern eyes are centered by an embossed brass plate and colorful trade seed beads form the moustache. Working in sese wood, Nana Adu Amankwapam I creates a mask of unusual beauty.
Wood mask, 'Peace from Nigeria'
Framed with colorful zigzags, an elongated oval forms a tranquil face. Golden hues define the features, embellished by richly embossed sheets of brass. Juliana Akandas creates a mask used by the Fulani people, nomadic cattle herders of northern Nigeria.
Ghanaian wood mask, 'Unite in Peace'
A bird bows gracefully on the forehead of this mask by Walter Kuma. Smaller faces appear over each ear. From Ghana's Akwapim people from the area around Aburi, the piece is named Binkabi (bite not one another).
Senegalese wood mask, 'Plea for Harvest'
Worn by the Fleke tribe of Senegal during the season of planting crops, this mask represents a plea for a good harvest. Peter Wolfgang Nkrumah carves it by hand, adding rich textures with embossed aluminum. Details in warm color enhance an exceptional piece of West African art.
Wood mask, 'Elder Smoking Pipe'
With thoughtful eyes looking into the distance, an elder puffs on his pipe. Abdul Karim Star suggests the wrinkled visage with applications of embossed brass and aluminum. Sculpted of sese wood, this extrardinary piece portrays a man from the nomadic Fula tribe.
Wood mask, 'Enforcer of the Law'
Crowned by a bird, white features in a heart-shaped face suggest a relationship with the dead. Victor Yao Delanyo represents an adult male from Ekpo, the principal mask society of Nigeria's Ibibio tribe.
Wood mask, 'Bobo Boar'
A single horn falls from the forehead of this fanciful creature, superbly carved from sese wood. It represents a boar. Evans Doe Martey recreates a mask from the Bobo people of Burkina Faso.
Ghanaian wood mask, 'Akwapim Protector'
An elongated face stares with worried eyes, his brow wrinkled with concern. This beautiful mask comes from the Akwapim people from the area around Aburi in Ghana. Named Banbofo (Protector), it is masterfully carved by Walter Kuma.
Ghanaian mask, 'Rain Priest'
A refreshing shade of green colors this sese wood mask by Robert Nortey. The mask replicates the art of the Gonja people of Ghana, and it is traditionally worn by the priest when asking God to send rain. It is also used in trials.