All minkisi (sing. nkisi) are containers for consecrated substances, or "medicine," that empower them to protect, heal, or destroy.

In West and Central Africa, the elephant is a potent image of political force and the accumulation of wealth by those in power. This is true for the art of the Cameroon Grasslands, the origin of this mask, which is elaborately decorated with imported glass beads and represents an elephant.

Despite the presence of a small elegant female figure, the sharp horns and tusks of antelopes and warthogs pointing in all directions, the prominent zigzag teeth, projecting glass eyes, and reflective mirrors, and the overall encrusted surface give this mask a menacing appearance.

This wall panel depicts a nearly life-size standing male figure with enormous splayed hands. His body is decorated with tattoos that indicate he lived in northern Siberut, the region where the Taileleu people traditionally went headhunting.