A traditional African hand carved wooden bird mask of the Dan people, a Mande ethnic group from northwestern Ivory Coast and neighboring Liberia. Circa the mid late 20th century. A Koma type mask with a long, downward pointing beak instead of a mouth, a high forehead, and round eyes. In Dan society, mask wearers of this type are important members of the clans social hierarchy. It should be noted that these masks represent more than just the spirits of the forest. They are the pure embodiment of spirits and interfere in the conflict resolution process when the village headman fails to solve any problem. Traditional African Wooden Masks And Tribal Art Collectibles.