Banda
Banda is the name of a masked supernatural being among the Baga and Nalu of coastal Guinea. The mask combines human features with those of a crocodile or shark, teeth bared, the tail of a chameleon, the horns and ears of an antelope, and features of less identifiable animals. It is worn horizontally on top of the head and attached to a skirt of vegetal fibres that covers the wearer's body. Banda masks were the property of the Simo men's society, which historically regulated fertility and initiation ceremonies; after conversion to Islam, the masks were danced mainly for entertainment.