The narrow eye slits are a ritual requirement intended to prevent the spirit evoked from adversely affecting the wearer. Although representing a woman, such masks are always worn by men. The impersonator wears stilts that raise him far above the viewers. The vision of the artist is fundamentally realist. His proportions are natural and the features are realistic but idealized.
Faces are smooth with serene expressions.
They represent the guardian spirits during the initiation of adolescent girls. The high arched brows, half-closed eyes and formal hairdo all represent the feminine ideas of beauty. Although these two masks come from different geographical areas within Africa they are both based on the ideals of feminine beauty of each group. A woman who took great care with her hair, who selected her dress carefully and arranged its folds artistically was said to be beautiful. This judgement did not take into account her physical appearance but rather her ability to translate her inner tranquility and poise.