African mask database

Individual mask records, each attributed and graded. Every record states how firm its attribution is and what is known of the object's history.

Browse by culture, country, form category or subject depicted.

77 records

60 of 77 records carry a photograph. The rest are catalogued from museum records that publish no reusable image.

• Akua’ba Fertility FigureAshantiMuseum-published Museum accession
• Anthropomorphic Yaka MaskYaka · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Baule Male FigureBauleMuseum-published Museum accession
• Buffalo MaskBwa · Horizontal zoomorphic helmetMuseum-published Museum accession
• Bwoom MaskKubaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Dan Face MaskDan · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Dean Gle MaskDan · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Double-Headed Headdress (N’gonzon Koun)Bamana · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Egúngún Masquerade Dance CostumeYorubaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Egúngún Masquerade Dance CostumeYorubaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Emangungu MaskBembeMuseum-published Museum accession
• Face Mask (Agboho mmuo)Igbo · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Female figure from an obu (house of images)Igbo · Figure, staff, or non-mask objectMuseum-published Museum accession
• Gambanda or Kambanda Female MaskPendeMuseum-published Museum accession
• Gelede Helmet Mask of a Gendarme (3)Yoruba · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Gelede Mask (2)Yoruba · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• HeaddressEjagham · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Headdress (chi wara)Bamana · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Headdress (chi wara)Bamana · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Headdress (Idoma)Idoma · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Headdress Mask: BuffaloBamileke · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Heddle Pulley (Bo Nun Amuin mask)Baule · Figure, staff, or non-mask objectMuseum-published Museum accession
• Helmet (Gelede)YorubaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Helmet MaskBamilekeMuseum-published Museum accession
• Helmet MaskSenufo · Vertical helmetMuseum-published Museum accession
• Helmet MaskBamileke · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Hemba MaskSukuMuseum-published Museum accession
• Igbudu Helmet MaskYorubaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Kalengula MaskBinji · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Kono Helmet MaskBamanaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Kple Kple or Kouassi Gbe MaskBauleMuseum-published Museum accession
• Lefem – Commemorative figureBamileke · Figure, staff, or non-mask objectMuseum-published Museum accession
• Mano MaskMano · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• MaskYoruba · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Mask (mbap mteng): Elephant (aka)Bamileke · Face mask, Vertical helmetMuseum-published Museum accession
• Mask for Mblo MasqueradesBaule · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Mblo Portrait MaskBauleMuseum-published Museum accession
• Mother-and-Child FigurePendeMuseum-published Museum accession
• Mwana Pwo MaskChokweMuseum-published Museum accession
• Ndeemba MaskYakaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Ndoma mask | Mask for Mblo Masquerades (1)Baule · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Ndoma mask | Mblo Portrait Mask (2)Baule · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Nkisi nkondi Male figureKongoMuseum-published Museum accession
• Nuna Mask Combining Bird and Buffalo FeaturesNunaMuseum-published Museum accession
• Omono or Tana Wurum Bogoro MaskDogonMuseum-published Museum accession
• Poro Helmet MaskSenufo · Vertical helmetMuseum-published Museum accession
• Ram Mask (Bolo)BoboMuseum-published Museum accession
• Satimbe Face Mask with Female FigureDogon · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Serpent HeaddressBaga · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Shrine Figure (Ikenga)Igbo · Figure, staff, or non-mask objectMuseum-published Museum accession
• Shrine Figure (Ikenga)Igbo · Figure, staff, or non-mask objectMuseum-published Museum accession
• Suruku Helmet MaskMalinkeMuseum-published Museum accession
• Tehe gla Face MaskWè · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Uhunmwun-elao – Ancestral Commemorative Brass HeadBini · Figure, staff, or non-mask objectMuseum-published Museum accession
• Urhobo MaskUrhobo · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Vili Male FigureViliMuseum-published Museum accession
• Wan-balinga MaskMossiMuseum-published Museum accession
• Yohure Face MaskYohure · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• Zigiren-Wɔndɛ – HeaddressBaga · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• Zogbe Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Also called Sowei, Bundu, or Ndoli Jowei )Gola · Vertical helmetMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographFemale Headdress (Nimba, D’mba, or Yamban)Baga · Headdress or crest worn atop the headMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographFish MaskBwaMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographFunerary MaskIgboMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographGu Female Face MaskGuro · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographHawk MaskBwaMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographHelmet Mask (Kono Kun)BamanaMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographHelmet Mask (Sowei)Mende · Vertical helmetMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographKaran Wemba Plank MaskMossiMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographLuruya Plank MaskBwaMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographMask (Uzouwani)IgboMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographMbuya ya Mukhetu Female Face MaskPende · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographMukenga – Helmet MaskKubaMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographMwana Pwo Female Face MaskChokwe · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographNgady Mwaash Female Face MaskKuba · Face maskMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographSha MaskShaMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographSigi Kun – HelmetBamanaMuseum-published Museum accession
• No photographTime of the Brave Mask (Mgbedike)IgboMuseum-published Museum accession

How to read the grades

Each record carries two independent grades. They are separate on purpose: a museum-published attribution can sit on an object with no documented history before 1970, and that combination is a true statement about the record rather than a contradiction.