Our page banner is a detail from a bronze plaque of a warrior and his attendants from the Edo Court of Benin.
Photo: (Creative Commons) © Alkali Soaps
Teke moon shaped masks are worn by members of the Kiduma - a secret society that takes charge of social celebrations and rituals.
The mask is held in place with a bite bar at the back which the wearer holds in his teeth.
These masks are usually decorated with geometric symbols and divided by a horizontal stripe. They are colored with clay and paint.
The Teke people come from the Congo Republics and Gabon. They are well known as traders and the name 'teke' means 'to buy'.