We (Gere, Guere, Guere Wobe, Wee), Liberia and Côte dIvoire
Bugle face mask.
The We, estimated at 100,000 live in the southwest of the forested Côte
dIvoire and the southeast of Liberia. They
are in fact two separate ethnic groups the Guere (also known as Ngere) and the Wobe
although they share numerous customs and beliefs. Rice, yams, taro, manioc, maize,
and bananas are the primary crops grown. Farming and hunting have been largely replaced by
laboring in the diamond camps or working at the rubber plantations. Confederations govern both ethnic
groups -- the largest is the warrior confederation, which is led by a military chief, who
also acts as a civil authority. As symbols of societal beliefs and values,
their masks reinforce respect for the rules and functioning of society. This mask
represents a forest spirit. Formerly, bugle masks carried out important social
control functions, including judicial decisions, law enforcement, criminal punishment,
fine collection, and dispute settlement. Their aggressive, lively performance was intended
to instruct in proper behavior, although in recent decades this punitive power has
declined.
Material:
wood
Size:
H. 14, W. 8, D. 7