Strange but real

Q:  Hi, can’t place this one. Family in Africa 1967 on, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt. I think this bought in Ghana from itinerant trader. Maybe Mali, Upper Volta? Thoughts? Sorry I don’t have mask, one one picture.  John, 629

A:  I’ve never seen anything like this. It seems to be a real cultural artifact and could be important, so let’s try to find out more. I would start with Mali and Burkina Faso… but that is just a hunch. Isn’t there some way you could get more info such as pics of the side and rear, dimensions, etc?