In Africa masks can be traced back to well before Paleolithic times. For many centuries African Tribal masks, played a major role in rituals, celebrations, ceremonial and tribal initiations. Masking rituals are normally accompanied with prayer, music, song and or dance. Before the sculpting starts, the artisan purifies himself and performs a prayer, consulting the divine forces and the spirits of his ancestor’s for guidance. African masks often represent a spirit and it is strongly believed that the spirit of the ancestors possesses the wearer.