The Dan Tribe and sub Tribes Guere and Yacouba live in Western Ivory coast (Côte d'Ivoire) and Liberia.  They are people from the rainforest.  Their traditional masks and masquerades are some of the best known in Western countries.

Dan masquerades are usually performed by male associations for rituals, education, social control and entertainment. Masks were thought to embody the most powerful of spirit forces called gle.  Each gle has its own character. These bush spirits and masquerades brought control and order to village life.

There are a variety of Dan face masks, each of which has a different function:

BUGLE MASKS

Masks with round eyes that project outwards are usually Bugle masks, which today are used at planting time to aid in the creation of good crops. They were considered masculine and more aggressive.  The Bugle mask is characterized by an exaggerated mouth, a dark, thick patina, a row of stylized horns on the forehead and, when preserved, a high feathered coiffure. Historically its wearer dances and makes trouble in order to provoke a reaction from the people watching. It was worn in pre-war ceremonies.

BAGLE MASKS

The Bagle mask has an oval, concave face, a low forehead and typical tubular eyes. It is worn to entertain while the wearer dances, beats the musicians with a curved stick and throws objects he finds in their way.
 

GUNYEGE MASKS

Round eyed masks are used in racing games and ceremonies in which the masked spirit must compete against unmasked runners. If the wearer loses the race, it means the spirit has deserted that person and the mask goes to the winner, as a trophy to wear in the next race.  Its wearer is pursued by an unmasked runner or runners and, if caught, the unmasked runner wears the mask and is, in turn, pursued. Historically, these races trained men to fight and the winner gained social recognition. Nowadays, the races are more like a game.
 

ZAKPAI GE MASKS

Zakpai masks have similar features to the Gunyege, but has a red cloth over its eyes.  These masks usually have a horizontal, usually red band across the eyes and are used to enforce fire prevention. The wearer monitors bonfires and punishes those who's bad practices endanger the village.  If a fire is not properly contained, the masquerader will often beat the offending person with sticks.

DEANGLE MASKS

Masks with softly modeled features, slit or downcast eyes which are occasionally covered with white kaolin and often feature a vertical ridge on the forehead are regarded as feminine masks, Deangle, an idealized form of beauty and grace.  Worn by the intermediary who acts between the village and the forest initiation camp. They represent gentle spirits who collect food from the villagers for boys away in initiation camps and were used for nurturing, teaching and entertaining. White bands across the eyes copy the practice of Dan females painting white kaolin on their faces for special occasions.  


TANKAGLE MASKS

Feminine masks, often more intricately carved than Deangle masks, are used in singing masquerades and confer blessings on the village.  These masks are worn during entertainment celebrations.
 

KAOGLE MASKS

 The Kaogle mask has triangular cheek-bones and eyes and its wearer is meant to stimulate a festive mood among the audience by throwing sticks at them.

DUGLE MASKS

The Dugle mask, or 'the cow', has a high forehead and a huge mouth resembling a beak and is worn for entertainment purposes.

GAGON MASKS


The Gagon mask has the same function as the Dugle and is predominantly found in the northern Dan territory. It has a high-domed forehead, slit eyes, a long, beak-like nose often with black monkey fur attached underneath, and a long, occasinally mobile jaw.  Originally an educational mask instructing people on the importance of the hornbill, now these masquerades are used mostly for entertainment.

GLEWA MASKS

The Glewa mask is worn for peace-making purposes. It is a large mask, either in the shape of a stylized elephant with tubular eyes and a domed forehead with a medium ridge, or in the form of a human face with exaggerated features.

MINI PASSPORT MASKS

The Dan people also carried and used small masks (less than 8 inches tall) which are sometimes called 'passport' masks. They were often sewn onto a piece of cloth and kept wrapped in a leather pouch and possibly worn in the small of the back. They are miniature copies of a family mask and sometimes received libations and filled with sacrificial or magic substances. These talismanic apotropaic (intended to ward off evil) masks also act as witnesses during initiation ceremonies.  True examples are quite rare and expensive.  Contemporary ones are carved.

GO GE MASKS

The Go Ge mask belongs to the Go secret society and is worn to announce the death of important chiefs. Its features vary from one village to another, but the masks are usually large, and have an elaborated plaited coiffure.

GUERE MASKS

The Guere, neighbors and considered a subclan of the Dan, make masks for similar purposes but usually of a form that is more ugly or scary than Dan masks.  They are used for rituals, education and social control.

The above list is certainly not a complete one, as the Dan people masquerade many masks.  For more examples, I highly recommend http://www.randafricanart.com/Dan_Gunyega_mask1.html

click map to see an enlarged view

Dan people, who are also known by the name Yacuba, live in the western part of the Ivory Coast and into Liberia where the land is forested in the south and bordered by a savannah in the north. The 350,000 Dan people make their living from farming cocoa, rice and manioc. Before unifying secret societies were set up at the turn of the century, each Dan village was an autonomous socio-political unit governed by a chief elected on the base of his wealth and social position. Today, the leopard society acts as a major regulator of Dan life and initiates young men during their isolated periods of three to four months in the forest. Dan people have achieved notoriety in the area for their entertainment festivals which were historically village ceremonies, but are today performed largely for tourists. During these festivals, masked performers dance on stilts.


MASKS
Dan masks are characterized by a concave face, a pointed chin, a protruding mouth, an upturned nose, a high-domed forehead and are often covered in a rich brown patina. Similar masks are found throughout the country, but regional stylistic variations occur. For example, northern face masks tend to have very fine features, a high-domed smooth forehead, eyes set in the middle of the face and a very smooth brown patina obtained by immersing the mask in a pool of mud. Southern masks, on the other hand, have protruding features and a rougher patina obtained by applying vegetal pigments.


STATUES
Dan figures, which were commissioned by powerful chiefs as three-dimensional portraits of their favourite spouse, are relatively rare. They measure about 60 cm in height and function as maternity figures with babies on their backs. These statues are kept hidden inside houses and are only revealed during important occasions such as visits by foreign dignitaries. Since the turn of the century, Dan blacksmiths have cast brass figures which serve as prestige objects. They usually represent soldiers or people engaging in daily activities.

ETHNOGRAPHIC OBJECTS
Wooden carved ladles are given to the most generous and hospitable women in each village. They have an elongated scoop and their handle is carved either in the shape of a pair of legs, or a face or an animal head.
Dan jewelry, such as brass necklaces with ornamental leopards' teeth, and armlets and bracelets with spherical bells, is cast by village smiths.

RELATED TRIBES
The Dan Maou people occupy the north-west part of the Dan territory. They carve large face masks with chins issuing a long beak which are covered in a thick encrusted patina (ii). This type of mask is feared by the population as it has a judiciary function and is worn to denounce spell-casters. Dan Maou masks can also be recognized by the triple incised grooves on their edges. Dan Kran people inhabit the southern part of the Dan territory and have powerful carved masks with geometric triangular features.