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The practice of honoring important deceased individuals with commemorative heads placed on their graves dates back to the 16th century among the Anyi peoples. Abandoned in the early 20th century because of missionary zeal, this practice was revived after the middle of the century with the rise of nationalist sentiment. The simple, slit eyes and mouth, straight brow ridges, and flat face seen here indicate that this head belongs to the Agona-Asafo style of the coast. The long, ringed neck is a sign of beauty.
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