How did Kpelle group totems connect with ancestors?

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totem fish mask — Totemism Totem fish mask from the Orokolo Bay area of New Guinea. Painted bark cloth over rattan frame with fringe of dried grass. Height 1.63 m.

Among the Kpelle people, group totems—particularly those represented by animals—are viewed as the physical residence of the ancestors. Because these totems serve as dwellings for ancestral spirits, they are treated with deep respect and are provided with offerings to honor those who came before.1

Beyond this connection, Kpelle totems are described as "things of the back of men," signifying that they accompany and protect individuals as guides and warners against danger. While group totems link the community to their ancestors, individual totems function as an alter ego and can provide magical powers, further reinforcing the spiritual bond between the living and the sacred symbols of their heritage.1