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The Dan are
hunters and farmers whose territory stretches from the western side of the Ivory Coast into Liberia.
Dan masks
have a typically high forehead, pouting mouth and pointed chin. They may also
have scarification marks like the line that splits the forehead and nose in
our example above. The Dan mask is a sacred object and is used for protection
and as a channel for communication with the spirit world. The Dan also carry
small 'passport masks' for personal protection when they are living away from
home.The Dan believe that their world is split into two domains: the human
domain which is represented by the village and its people, and the spiritual
domain which is represented by the forest and its spirits.When a dancer wears
a Dan mask he becomes the spirit of that mask. A masked dancer will speak in
the language of the spirits and his words are interpreted by a wise man. Some
dancers perform masked rituals on stilts. There are many different Dan masks,
each of which has a distinct use during rituals or festivals. Some masks play
an important part in tribal rites while others are simply for entertainment.
For
additional photos or questions please email me. Shipping costs can be reduced
by combining items.
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