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A bird poses on the forehead of this imposing mask by Abdul Aziz Mohamadu. He names it Sahafi, a Hausa word meaning "spiritual protection." Strong African rubberwood contours are carved and painted by hand, while applications of white clay give the piece a vintage appearance. "The mask is used by the Hausa people of Mali," Mohamadu explains. "It is used when their crops bear fruit. It is believed that the mask drives away birds that come to destroy their crops."

"Used by the Kidul tribes of Mali when going to war, this mask acts as a spiritual guide and gives a third eye that enables the wearer to see the enemy's hideout," says Ghanaian artisan Abdul Aziz Mohamadu. A star adorns the helmet while a bird rests its beak atop it. Elegant brass repoussé embellishes the cheeks of this dramatic hand crafted mask.

Ghanaian master carver Christopher Nyasafo faithfully replicates the beautiful artistry of the Senufo people with this replica mask. Carved by hand featuring a bird on the crown looking down, this ceremonial mask from the Senufo people of Ivory Coast and Mali is associated with their Poro society to which the adult men belong to. Their purpose is to maintain a community of religious and historical traditions.

By Abdul Aziz Mohamadu, this handsome mask takes the shape of a bird. "The Wangara people of Mali use this mask during the Moo – wangara, which celebrates a bumper harvest," he explains. "The festival is to hoot at the hunger that they once experienced. The people are very joyous on this occasion because they recount the bad times when they had to go hungry. Looking at their present state of plenty, there is a lot to be happy about."

Perched atop an elongated mask coated in white clay, a bird leans down to caress its forehead. Salihu Ibrahim carves the piece by hand in the style of the Senufo people of Mali and the northern Cote d'Ivoire. "Masks like this are worn by hunters before setting out to hunt," he says. "It is believed the wearing of the mask gives good luck as white is a lucky color." The red pigments are achieved by grinding a red stone, while charcoal provides the black accents.