It is also the physical manifestation of the god Edan.

One of the rarer African masks.

The expression and deformations of the mask are astonishing. I know of no other mask in which the representation of the human face has been so fundamentally altered.

A variation of the well-known kplekple moon mask used by the Boule people during the traditional Goli dance.

Figures, which traditionally represented images of ancestors, were placed in the central tent of the village.

The Tikar people believed that a child was created from a woman's menstrual blood.

There is a whole group of masks from the south of Ivory Coast that share common characteristics. First and foremost, they are disturbing.

According to the beliefs of the Latmul tribes living along the Sepik River, the crocodile symbolizes the spirit of the ancestors. Since the whole world was created from water, the crocodile was one of its forefathers.

It is likely that several such masks formed the capitals of the columns supporting the roof of the House of Men.

The sculpture depicts a dignitary of the royal family in all his majesty. He sits on a throne whose base is formed by elephants, the most powerful animals in Africa, and whose armrests are coiled snakes. On the backrest, we see a scorpion, two chameleons, and a bird. These animals symbolize strength, wisdom, and cunning.

 The choice was determined by the hair. It is the distinguishing feature of Gela masks. According to the canon, it should be elaborate and impressive. I must admit, however, that after looking through several hundred photos of such geometric and asymmetrical hairstyles, I did not find any.

 It is also important to note that they are not intended for display. A young man should carry them with him. Despite their prevalence, such items are rarely offered for sale.