Dan (Gio, Gioh, Gyo,Yacouba, Yakuba), Dan (Gio, Gioh, Gyo,Yacouba, Yakuba), Deangle Mask. Among
the Dan people, masks are not controlled by a men’s association, but instead are
owned by families and used by individual lineage members in contexts of social control,
boy’s circumcision camps, and entertainment. Visually, the Dan masqueraders show an
opposition between female beauty and gentleness and male fierceness and power. The Deangle
mask, presented here, is a naturalistic mask with human features, representing a female
forest spirit. These masks with slit or circular eyes portray a gentle, peaceful type of
spirit whose attributes and behavior are feminine. When the deangle masks are used
in the boy’s circumcision camp located in a sacred forest grove, their function is to
provide the boys with a calm surrogate feminine presence and to instruct boys in adult
male responsibilities, social roles, and proper behavior. In such a context, masquerades
serve as devices of learning, as well as facilitate the initiate’s access to the
knowledge and secrets controlled by the most powerful male elders.
Material:
wood, tissue, metal
