Hand Carved West African Wood Wall Mask from Ghana 'Ga Nyo' Item ID: 2677064698

My name is Moro Yakubu Monnie. I was born in 1970 in Accra, Ghana. My friends describe me as a committed, reliable and hardworking person.

I got into this work by learning from Master Carver Coffie, who was then living in Sukura in the greater Accra region of Ghana. I worked with him for seven years. It was very difficult starting on my own. I used to sell to the art centre and other art shops. I have also been to Togo and Benin to sell my work. It was very challenging in the early stages, especially establishing a workshop and also trying to find customers to purchase my items.

I have four assistants now. I have had to stay committed, work hard and be creative to master my work. I get my inspirations from nature. The materials I use for my work are sandpaper, aluminum plates, and acrylic paint. They are easily accessible in the market and easy to work with. One of my most difficult moments in life was when I crafted products which didn't match with the original samples, and I had to re-craft them all over again.

My favorite thing about this craft is the job satisfaction, and the most challenging aspect is to meet deadlines. The qualities of my work that I take pride in the most are the quality of the wood I use and the neatness of my entire work.

My dream is to own a big company one day, and see it grow.