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"The warm colors of this mask reflect beauty and grace of African women," says Kennedy K. Aseidu of his original design. He carves the long sese wood mask by hand featuring exquisite painted details.

Almond eyes beneath arched brows represent the Punu standard of feminine beauty. Painted white, the serene features suggest one who has passed on to the realm of spirits. The tall hairdo denotes a woman from the Punu tribe of the upper Ngoume River region of southwestern Gabon. Salihu Ibrahim carves a lovely mask used during funeral rites.

Christopher Nyasafo crafts a beautiful African mask from the Teke-Tsaye people of Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With its circular face and characteristic triangular nose, it represents masks used in rituals by the Kidumu men's society. The Ghanaian artisan carves the piece by hand and paints it in beautiful colors.

Christopher Nyasafo crafts a beautiful African mask from the Teke-Tsaye people of Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With its circular face and characteristic triangular nose, it represents masks used in rituals by the Kidumu men's society. The Ghanaian artisan carves the piece by hand and paints it in beautiful colors.

Sleek and beautiful, this mask is minimalist in design. Sinclair Yao Daley carves it by hand and gives it a rich brown color with natural cola nut dye. "This mask is considered a protector against evil spirits by the Fang people of Gabon," he explains. "It has been worked into an orderly pattern and it therefore imparts tremendous benefits."

A faithful replica of the renowned "White Masks of the Ogooue," this mask personifies an ancestral spirit of the Kota and Mukudji people from Gabon. Known as "Punu," the ancestral spirit is believed to guide one to the hereafter; Punu masks are reserved for important village festivities. Salihu Ibrahim hand-carves the mask of sese wood featuring half-opened eyes and slightly raised pursed lips. The forehead is embellished with a distinct diamond-shaped motif; it is crowned with a stylized hairdo. Once the mask is carved and the wood has dried thoroughly, it is treated with clay to appear like an antique piece.