Drawing its inspiration from the animal realm, a mangam mask from the Mama people, living in Nigeria’s Middle Benue River Valley, depicts a bush cow. In a wonderful abstract configuration, the animal’s curved horns meet in a circle in a graceful way. The open jaw projects downwards from a concave dome hollowed out to fit on the dancer’s head. With its bold stylized volumes, the headdress does more with less, as a testament to the ingenious craftsmanship of Mama artists. A big costume made from overlapping tiers of palm leaf attached to the lower rim of the headdress once completely covered the dancer. These masks performed to ensure agricultural success and mark rites of passage of its cult members. A thick layer of powdered red ochre was repeatedly applied to the surface, indicative of its long ritual life.