In early African society, carved masks were often worn during rituals. what did these masks represent

These masks usually represented the spirits, deities, or mythological creatures. Or even to scare away the negative energy or spirits.

If that's not the answer you were looking for, they also would create unique masks that matched their persona and who they were by using specific colors, details, prints, patterns, or animal.

In general, masks tend to represent spirits or beings important to the ritual in which the mask in used. The wearer of the mask is often believed to be able to communicate to the being symbolized by it, or to be possessed by who or what the mask represents. To African cultures, masks aren't playthings or decorations.