Masks signify the power of communications between people and spirits in Nigeria and other African regions. Masks are often made to represent the physical form of ancestral spirits, which are reflected in the artistic representation of the masks as abstracted forms of the human face. This allows the mask wearer to inhabit the spirit world and communicate with the spirits on behalf of the community. Masks are a fundamental element of African art and their symbolic significance is prevalent in the artifacts, folklore, and traditional religions.