We (Gere, Guere, Guere Wobe, Wee), Liberia
and Côte dIvoire
Bugle Mask. The
We 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. 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, leather, feathers, tacks, animal hair, raffia
Size:
10½ x 9x 5