The African cultures' arts were focused on ancestors and considers them as a medium to connect life with god.
Traditionally Africans believe in the spirits which they represent through their statues, sculptures, and masks. Wooden masks were used as channel for reaching to ancestors' spirits.
Similarly, statues and sculptures were used to connect the living beings with these spirits of deities or ancestors such as Bambara statuettes which they actively use to perform all their rituals.