A vast majority of the Fang tribe,
inhabit the equatorial rain forest in Gabon. A Fang mask is worn by
spiritual leaders during rituals, to drive away evil spirits, or as
symbols depicting wealth and prosperity.
The Fang people used
masks in their secret societies. Members of this male society wore the
Ngil masks during the initiation of new members and the persecution of
wrongdoers Masqueraders, clad in raffia costumes along with helpers,
would materialize in the village after dark each of the maskers would
bear a torchlight. Ngil mask are normally elongated with the carved
lines running from the forehead down to the tip of the nos.
Ngontang
masks comes from the Northern Ogowe River region, these types of masks
are used during ceremonies to fight off evil. To read more click here.