Ghanaian artisan Emmanuel Austin Ankude handcrafted this intricately detailed mask. Chiseled out of sese wood, polished, and finished with clay, this mask is named for the traditional balele dance which is performed on Christmas and other holidays throughout Guinea. This replica mask, called ngou ntangha by the Fang people, depicts a man's face and is meant to represent the spirit of a deceased person; it is traditionally used to locate sorcerers.
Language: English
