Frafra (Ghana) Mask Wood

Used within the context of a funeral or funerary procession, this Frafra mask is among the most revered item within the scope of Frafra ceremony. When a Frafra dies, a three-day burial rite takes place. But, the funeral ceremony usually takes place one to three years after one's death. Funeral ceremonies vary in length and extravagance. Depending upon the status and age of the deceased, these ceremonies can last as long as seven days. A public event, funerals include dancing, mock battles, sacrifices, feasts, and music in order to give praise to the deceased and to the clan of the deceased. Much of the apparel for the funeral reflects the longstanding warrior tradition of the Frafra society. It is this aspect of Frafra culture to which this dramatic mask's style and most obviously, its horns, refer.