<P> One of the well - known representations of female beauty is the Idia mask of Benin . It is believed to have been commissioned by a king of Benin in memory of his mother . To honor his dead mother, the king wore the mask on his hip during special ceremonies . </P> <P> As the veneration of defunct ancestors is a fundamental element of most African traditional cultures, it is not surprising that the dead is also a common subject for masks . Masks referring to dead ancestors are most often shaped after a human skull . A well - known example is the mwana pwo (literally, "young woman") of the Chokwe people (Angola), that mixes elements referring to feminine beauty (well - proportioned oval face, small nose and chin) and other referring to death (sunken eye sockets, cracked skin, and tears); it represents a female ancestor who died young, venerated in rites such as circumcision rites and ceremonies associated to the renewal of life . As veneration of the dead is most often associated to fertility and reproduction, many dead - ancestor masks also have sexual symbols; the ndeemba mask of the Yaka people (Angola and DR Congo), for example, is shaped after a skull complemented with a phallic - shaped nose . </P> <P> A special class of ancestor masks are those related to notable, historical or legendary people . The mwaash ambooy mask of the Kuba people (DR Congo), for example, representing the legendary founder of the Kuba Kingdom, Woot, while the mgady amwaash mask represents his wife Mweel . </P> <P> The most commonly used material for masks is wood, although a wide variety of other elements can be used, including light stone such as steatite, metals such as copper or bronze, different types of fabric, pottery, and more . Some masks are painted (for example using ochre or other natural colorants). A wide array of ornamental items can be applied to the mask surface; example include animal hair, horns, or teeth, sea shells, seeds, straws, egg shell, and feathers . For example, animal hair or straws are often used for a mask's hair or beard . </P>

What are four of the forms that are used to create an african mask