Excavations along the Niger River have revealed a group of exceptionally preserved iron masks featuring stylised antelope horns and intricate gold-leaf accents. These masks are believed to be the earliest material evidence of the 'Savanna Spirit' festival, a tradition celebrating the seasonal migration of game and the arrival of the life-giving floods.
The metallurgy found on these masks indicates a high level of craftsmanship in the early medieval Sahel region. The masks were found alongside ritual hearths and charred remains of large-scale community feasts, suggesting that the festival served as a crucial social gathering for neighboring clans to exchange goods and renew political alliances under the guise of ancestral celebration.