Handcrafted African Ghanaian Wood Mask, "Fortunes"

This bright and colorful mask celebrates the start of the Homowo Festival of Ghana's Ga people. According to custom, long ago people were starving due to a lack of rain and no harvest. Eventually the rains returned and Homowo (from homo meaning hunger, and wo meaning sleep) celebrates the end of the draught. The mask also celebrates the births of twins, believed to augur good fortunes. Sefah Mohammed honors this legendary tradition with a sese wood replica painted black, green and yellow. It is adorned with embossed aluminum plates and glistening glass beads. Clay is used to give the mask an antique appearance.