painted earrings

Ghanaian artisan Ali Mohammed names this mask nhyira, from the Akan word for "blessings." Hand-carved from sese wood, this smiling mask is then painted black and given an aged finish. Bright red tassel earrings dangle at the sides and hints of blue and red decorate the cheerful face's headdress.

In this original design by Christopher Nyasafo of Ghana, he depicts a mask styled after young northern Ghanaian women when they are dressed for their wedding ceremonies. The elongated mask is carved by hand from native sese wood and painted in light blue, off-white and orange. The slender visage is adorned with cotton twine earrings.

The colors of the cord can vary slightly.

In this original design by Christopher Nyasafo of Ghana, he depicts a mask styled after young northern Ghanaian women when they are dressed for their wedding ceremonies. The elongated mask is carved by hand from native sese wood and painted in green, off-white and brown. The slender visage is adorned with cotton twine earrings.

The colors of the cord can vary slightly.

Master carver Daniel Asante expands on Ghana's mask traditions for the exclusive design of this mask. It is carved of tweneboah wood featuring a bird looking downwards upon the face. Asante paints his original creation by hand and decorates it with cotton and rayon threads that appear like earrings.

Hand-carved from sese wood, this oval African mask is designed by Ghanaian artisan Enoch Adjei. He paints it black with yellow accents and white dots across the face. Earrings of recycled glass and cotton complete this mask. Adjei names it "Obenewaa," an Akan name for a friendly woman.

Serving as spiritual leaders as well as porters, tatas were an important part of ancient Mayan culture. El Salvador's Oscar Rodolfo Mendoza creates this Mayan tata mask, which is handcrafted from ceramic and painted by hand with natural brown and red pigments derived from the achiote plant. The tata wears face paint, a spotted headdress, and round earrings. A nylon cord on the back allows this mask to be hung on a wall.

Hand-carved from sese wood, this oval African mask is designed by Ghanaian artisan Enoch Adjei. He paints it black with a yellow X across the face, accentuated by white dots at the forehead and a red color at the eyes. Earrings of recycled glass and cotton complete this mask. Adjei names it Nyame Bekyere, meaning "God will provide" in Akan.

A comb centers the headdress of this beautiful African mask, and the personage wears large earrings. Hand carved and painted, the sese wood image is crafted by Ghana's Salihu Ibrahim. It represents the Fulani people who have settled in Mali. Although thought to have West African origins, the Fula are also present throughout Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa. "We Africans tend to adopt certain cultural practices that we believe are good ones, and customs are also shared through inter-cultural marriage," Ibrahim explains. "Among Mali-dwelling Fulani, such masks are given to a woman as a marriage proposal. She responds by giving a Senufo monkey mask to her suitor as a sign of acceptance."

A monkey centers the headdress of this beautiful African mask, and the personage wears large earrings. Hand carved and painted, the sese wood image is crafted by Ghana's Salihu Ibrahim. It represents the Fulani people who have settled in Mali. Although believed to have West African origins, the Fula are also present throughout Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa. "We Africans tend to adopt certain cultural practices that we believe are good ones, and customs are also shared through inter-cultural marriage," Ibrahim explains. "Among Mali-dwelling Fulani, comb masks are given to a woman as a marriage proposal. She responds by giving a Senufo monkey mask to her suitor as a sign of acceptance. Because the monkey is known to be a happy animal, this mask reflects her happiness in saying yes."