African Mali Carved Wood Bamana N'tomo Ceremonial Mask as Wall Art. The mask has six horns, an earring in one ear, an elongated nose and pointed chin, and a small bald figure sitting on the dome. 

Size: 26 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. 

The N'tomo masks, rituals, and artifacts come from the Bamana (also known as Bambara or Banmana), who are a Mandé ethnic group native to much of West Africa, primarily southern Mali, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Senegal, associated with the historic Bambara Empire and making up the largest Mandé ethnic group in Mali today. The N'tomo are a series of initiation societies for young males in the tribe, each of which they must pass through before becoming an adult. A series of masks, with a number of horns indicating which level of society the danced ritual is taking place in, represent the legendary ancestors of their people and are considered a symbol of protection from evil spirits while undertaking the task. The masks are primarily made of wood and may be covered in shells, seeds, or brass, and the number of spikes indicates whether the mask is masculine, feminine or androgynous: Three, six or nine are male; four and eight are female; two, five and seven are androgynous. 

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