Belly masks

Ventral masks celebrate and parody the different phases of female fertility while those of disease have the negative effects of some evil spirit. Today, most of the masks have lost their sacredness and participate in playful activities on the occasion of local festivities or the visit of important characters as young generations have moved away from the traditions of their ancestors. The passport masks identify their owner as a member of a designated secret society or ethnic group while allowing him access to ceremonies held in sacred forest or accompanying him in the journeys with a protective value.