Beautifully decorated with sheet metal, this mask has an elegantly elongated face with a small figure on its head, protruding mouth, and a large nose. The sharp, narrow chin drastically defines the contour of the mask, contrasted to the wider, round cranial shape. Moreover, vertical structure hangs by both sides of the face to further emphasize the elongation of the face. The surface of the metal is beautifully decorated with intricate patterns and designs, and a patterned cloth is attached to the back of the mask so the wearer's head could be covered. Not only does the mask gleam with its dramatic visual beauty but it also serves a crucial function. The hollow eyes and the cloth behind the mask indicate that the mask was indeed utilitatian, worn over a dancer performing a ritual. Such masks were considered as possessing a special power of ritual ancestors because people believed that the masks are the place in which ancestral spirits reside. Many African art is dedicated to the life affirming activites of humans and people performed dance rituals for their needs such as agricultural prosperity or pleasing the angry spirits which might harm abundance and well-being. The dance using masks,thus,was a ritual performance guided and supported by the wise and the powerful spirits of ancestors. Wearing such mask not only concealed the dancer's identity but it was also considered as the transformation of the ancestor's spiritual power to the dancer, which could grant people's wishes. The mask's deep, hollow eyes are mysteriously ethereal, perhaps made for the ancestral spirit to look outward and for people to experience the spiritual connection of the two different levels of realm.