African masks are used in religious ceremonies and masquerades to communicate with spirits and ancestors. They are carefully carved by skilled artists, often trained as apprentices, who hold respected positions for embodying complex craft and symbolic knowledge passed down through generations. Masks can represent animals to help communication with forest or savanna spirits, indicate ideals of beauty, symbolize duty with power, or be used in war and Caribbean carnivals. Today, the qualities of African masks are becoming more understood and appreciated.