African Ceremonial Mask (to wards off evil spirits)

    Ritual ceremonies generally depict deities, spirits of ancestors, mythological beings, good and or evil, the dead, animal spirits, and other beings believed to have power over humanity. Masks of human ancestors or totem ancestors (beings or animals to which a clan or family traces its ancestry) are often objects of family pride; when they are regarded as the dwelling of the spirit they represent, the masks may be honored with ceremonies and gifts.

African Mask 
(Exaggerated Wood and Hammered Copper Mask Sculpture)

     African masks are considered among the finest creations in the art world and are highly sought after by art collectors; in fact, many can be found in museums and art galleries throughout the world. African aesthetics generally have a moral basis, as indicated by the fact that in many African languages the word aesthetic means "beautiful" or "good." It is consistent with the use and meaning of African art that it should be both beautiful and good, because it is intended not only to please the eye but to uphold moral values.

     The ethical and religious basis of African art may explain why the principal subject is the human figure; African art often appears in ritual contexts that deal with the vital moral and spiritual concerns of the human condition.

     During celebrations, crop harvesting, war preparation, and peaceful times, African masks were worn by a chosen or initiated dancer; the masks often represent a spirit and it is strongly believed that the spirit of the ancestors possesses the wearer. Masks of human ancestors or totem ancestors (beings or animals to which a clan or family traces its ancestry) are often objects of family pride and may themselves be honored with ceremonies or gifts.

African Fang Mask - Colors Large

A colorful work of tribal art from the Fang peoples of Atlantic equatorial Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea). The Fang used masks in their secret societies. The ngil masks were worn by members the male ngil society during the initiation of new members and the persecution of wrongdoers. The mask was a symbol of fear and retribution, combating sorcery, hunting down social deviants and punishing criminals.