Hand-Carved Chokwe Chihongo Sese Wood African Mask, "Chihongo"

The Chokwe people of central Africa have a distinct art style, showcased here in Ali Mohammed's hand-carved African mask. Such masks are called chihongo, and depict an elderly male ancestor with narrowed eyes and filed teeth. They were used to represent spirits of wealth, and worn in counterpart to a female pwo mask in rituals to bring fertility. The artisan uses paint to give it an aged, rugged appearance, and decorates the ancestor's face with tassel earrings and a carved cingelyengelye mark on the forehead, representing the creator god Nzambi.