African masks served an important role in a wide range of tribal ceremonies and allowed the user to take on the persona represented by the mask for enhanced expression. Human features were most often incorporated, but sometimes the masks took on the appearance of animals. Masks were primarily made from wood, but light weight stone, copper, pottery, and fabric were also used. Items such as straw, animal teeth, sea shells, hair, seeds, and feathers helped in fashioning the mask to each specific event.
