The Dan people are
hunters and farmers whose territory stretches from the western side of the
Ivory Coast into Liberia.
Dan masks have a
typically high forehead, pouting mouth and pointed chin. They may also have
scarification marks like the line that splits the forehead and nose in our
example above. The Dan mask is a sacred object and is used for protection and
as a channel for communication with the spirit world. The Dan also carry small
'passport masks' for personal protection when they are living away from home. The
Dan believe that their world is split into two domains: the human domain which
is represented by the village and its people, and the spiritual domain which is
represented by the forest and its spirits. When a dancer wears a Dan mask he
becomes the spirit of that mask. A masked dancer will speak in the language of
the spirits and his words are interpreted by a wise man. Some dancers perform
masked rituals on stilts. There are many different Dan masks, each of which has
a distinct use during rituals or festivals. Some masks play an important part
in tribal rites while others are simply for entertainment.
For additional photos or
questions please email me. Shipping costs can be reduced by combining items.
