Over all of Africa, past and present, masks play a very important role in ritual functions. This mask was created for a formal ceremony and would have been worn by someone actively participating in the proceedings of a ritual. It is both painted and carved, with a sewn piece of cloth at the back to hide the person's head. The eyes are carved out, making them very striking and even glaring in comparison to the rest of the features. The aquiline nose and protruding forehead add to its presence, both in and out of a ritualistic setting. Nevertheless, through the years, it has not lost any of the drama and captivating power it possessed when first created- bringing light, joy and mystery to any setting.