This is a mask of the Sande society of the Mende tribe of Sierra Leone. The hairstyle on these masks is usually divided into 4, 6, or 8 large lobes or buns arranged around the crown of the head. Normally the lobes are then braided or tied together in a small knot at the top of the head. According to Sieber and Herreman in Hair in African Life and Culture, the 4 lobed style as this one has, was most common before WWI and Since WWII the variations with 6 or 8 lobes have been more popular. These coiffures are often further elaborated by the addition of a plaited border at the hairline.