Just a glance at an African mask can give an entire experience. That's what a brand should do. African masks often have deep history and symbolism behind their designs. Here are exciting masks from Authentic Africa. Check them out and see what feelings they give you, then read their descriptions and see if they match your experience.

Fang Prosperity Mask

The Fang of eastern Guinea and northern Gabon are a proud people with a very rich history. The Fang were great elephant hunters and traded ivory with other Africans. Artistically, the Fang were highly developed. This type of mask, common to the region is used during special dance ceremonies wherein the ancestors are asked to bless them with prosperity. The mask itself exudes richness.

BaKongo Ritual Mask

Every Kongo group has many cults and socities that revolve around their strong beliefs in supernatural forces and spirits of the dead. Their diverse ritual pieces are some of the most magically powerful and important art produced on the continent. The relations between the living and which lies beyond are harmonized by ancestral spirits, natural spirts (bakinda), local spirits (bisimbi) and ambivalent forces (minkisi). These supernatural entities are evoked by the village Nganga and elders. They are often asked to heal, to empower, to ensure success to bless and to protect individuals or the entire tribe.

Benin Fastac Mask

The mask is said to represent Queen Idia, mother of Oba (King) Esigie, who ruled Benin in the 16th century, and the original mask is thus dated to this period. The Oba wore this type of mask around his neck during ceremonies whose purpose was to drive away evil forces from the Edo peoples. This type of mask is popularly referred to as a Festac mask, after its use as the logo of the second Festival of Arts & Culture (FESTAC) held in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977. The original mask resides in the British Museum. It is a hot topic as to whether the mask, and other artefacts taken during the 1897 raid, should be repatriated.

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