Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A female (Pwo) mask is a type of African mask used in ceremonies and rituals by the Chokwe people. It represents the idealized beauty and fertility of women.
The Bundu mask is an African mask worn by women during initiation ceremonies among the Mende people in Sierra Leone. It represents female wisdom, maturity, and serves as a guardian spirit.
An Ikenga is a shrine figure created by the Igbo people in Nigeria. It typically depicts a male figure with two horns on its head and symbolizes personal achievement, success, and spiritual power.
Fang Reliquary Figure: An African sculpture created by the Fang people to house ancestral relics. These figures have elongated bodies with abstract facial features and serve as guardians of ancestral spirits.