beautiful african masks

By Abdul Aziz Mohamadu, this mask conveys a quiet joy. Its colorful contours are hand carved from seasoned African rubberwood and beautifully painted. Seed beads of recycled glass adorn the cheeks and brow. Used by the Gogoberi tribe in Nigeria during their Gobirawa harvest festival, it gives thanks to the gods.

Long eyelashes frame watchful eyes in a face that is sweetly feminine. Carved by hand of African African rubberwood, this beautiful mask is the work of Abdul Aziz Mohamadu. "Such masks are used by the Hausa tribe of Niger. It is placed in the room where a new baby sleeps so that the spirit of protection residing in the mask will ward off all evil spirits that try to attack the child, either during the day or night," he explains. He names the piece Maa Yea, a Hausa word that means "protecting of children."

Brilliant colors distinguish this beautiful mask, and a bird appears on the forehead. By Sefah Mohammed, it is adorned with African beads and ornate aluminum repoussé. "In Southern Nigeria, this mask is displayed during periods of drought," he explains. "It is believed that the mask's appearance causes the spirits to open the way for rainfall." Mohammed names this piece Tangarda, a Hausa word meaning "Unfortunate."

Ghanaian artisan Theophilus Anum designs this intricate, decorative wall mask. Carved from sese wood, the mask features unique designs and beautiful detailing on its headdress, face and collar. Named Festac after a Nigerian festival of the same name, this mask is sure to bring good cheer and enhance the decor of any room.

A yellow African mask smiles in this expression of Ibibio art. "I was inspired by an Ibibio tribal mask I saw in Nigeria," Sinclair Yao Daley says. Working in hand-carved sese wood, he creates an original design based upon that image.

Robert Nortey carves a beautiful sese wood replica of the Suaga mask of the Mambila people. They live south of the Adamana Mountains on the border between Cameroon and Nigeria -- either can be considered as their country of origin. The Suaga mask is used during the festival of the same name, which marks the beginning and the end of the agricultural cycle. Nortey adorns the mask with embossed aluminum plates to resemble tribal scarifications.