Such worship can take many forms. Most often, it is expressed simply in leaving food and drink for the dead, which should mean the request of the living to bring good, and not evil, to the earth. Many peoples believed that the spirits of ancestors could influence the fertility of women and the harvest. The pacification of ancestors is a hallmark of animism, which was held to one degree or another by most of the tribal communities around the world. However, since ancestors were not always considered gods, it is hardly legitimate to call this attitude "worship."
In China, ancestor worship took a slightly different form. There it was believed that after physical death, a part of the spirit of the deceased is infused into a special tablet. These tablets were placed in a special ceremonial room where relatives came to show their respect to those who had left, talk to them and bring food (which was done regularly). Thus, communication with the deceased took place as if they were still living people. The purpose of all these actions was the same as that of other tribal communities: appeasing the ancestors so that they would continue to somehow "look after" living relatives and their home.
In a sense, an intermediate type of ancestor worship has spread in West Africa. There, each clan has its own shrine, where the founder of this clan is believed to live. As a rule, such shrines are images of the person who founded the family carved from wood. This wooden image is presented with food, cared for, and asked for assistance (especially with regard to procreation).