Chokwe / Dan 210 - 211
Dan The Dan (also called Yacuba) belong to the
44
large domed forehead, a fine nose, a
south Mande linguistic group. For the most
Face Mask
mouth designed with precision and a
part they occupy the wooded savanna region
Dan, Cote d'Ivoire
bright patina. Examples from the
of western Cote d'Ivoire and, to a lesser
Wood; H. 25 cm.
regions bordering territory of We
degree, the east of Liberia; one alsofinds a
groups are more expressionistic, with
few Dan villages in Guinea (southeast).
All Dan masks, be they "great" or of
pronounced—sometimes disproportion-
Traditionally cultivators ofrice and manioc,
lesser importance, are sacred; they do
ate—features, monstrous appendices,
the Dan also work immense cacao and cof-
not represent spirits of the wilderness,
eyes and mouth protuberant. Example
fee plantations. Organized in exogamous,
they are these spirits. Over time, many
no. 45 could be a runner's mask from
virilocal patrilinear lineages,from a cultur-
among them have lost their original
the north, associated with amusements
al viewpoint they are dose to the We popu-
function and have been recycled into
for the young where he participates in
lations (ofthe Kru linguistic group) situat-
contexts related to entertainment,
the races: the large round eyes free the
ed inforest regions ofthe south, and against
emerging only for festivals or events
view of the wearer and might go to sup-
whom they have waged innumerable wars.
organized for tourists. Nonetheless, the
port this hypothesis with regards to its
The village is under the authority ofa chid
great masks live on, their ever more rare
use.
and a council cfelders. Since the end ofthe
appearances being reserved for times of
nineteenth century, the secret go leopard
tension, when it is important they may
association represents the most centralized of
exercise their role of social control and
45
village institutions, until then without a
their faculty to reduce conflict or settle
Face Mask
very stable political structure. For the Dan,
legal wrangles. Since the end of the
Dan, Cote d'Ivoire
the village and the wilderness, opposite and
nineteenth century, it is the go master,
Wood,cloth; H. 20.5 cm.
complimentary, constitute the world within
the head of the like-named society, who
Exhibitions:
which they must evolve. In order to attain
possesses these masks (the go ge) and
Arts primitifi dans les ateliers d'artistes,
adult status, all the boys and girls of the
who guards them in a sacred hut. These
Musee de l'Homme, Paris, 1967.
same age-group undergo an initiation that
go ge masks may be old masks of lesser
Secrecy: African Art that Conceals and Reveals,
indudes, in addition to specific teaching,
importance promoted to a higher rank,
The Museum for African Art, New York,
circumcisionfor theformer and ditoridecto-
or perhaps had always assumed high
1993.
myfor the latter To underline the transi-
offices. It is practically impossible to
Publications:
tional aspect of this trial, it takes place in
define the function of a go Be solely on
—Arts priminfi dans its ateliers d'artistes,
the world (beyond norms) of the bush—the
the basis of stylistic characteristics. In
Musee de l'Homme, Paris, 1967, no.
realm inhabited by spirits who, like the
the same way, one may encounter, dur-
64.
ancestors, can play an mediating role
ing entertainment events, powerful war
—Secrecy: African Art that Conceals and
between humans and the supreme being
masks reutilized in this secular context,
Reveals, The Museum for African Art,
Zran.
now that armed conflicts between vil-
New York, 1993, pl. 49, no. 67.
lages ofenemy clans or neighboring eth-
—African Arts, 1993, vol.-XXVI, no. 1.
A.M.B.
nic groups no longer take place. At the most, one may conjecture upon the localization
of certain
examples.
Northern Dan masks have a sober style, very well-known and now classic, with a
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A.M.B.