Carved wooden mask; painted black with an elongated face. The bottom comes to a point while the top is rounded and wider than the bottom. In ancient Ghana, masks were made to represent spirits of animals, ancestors, mythological heroes, or a way to honor someone in a symbolic way. The maker of the mask was usually of higher rank since they were believed to have a closer connections to the spirits and the spirit world. Masks were used during spiritual ceremonies, but were also used as decoration and were seen as a 'protector' of the home. 20cmX5.5cm.