Kagle face mask
The zone of new tree growth, or bush, that separates farming villages from the deep forest is considered an important point of contact for humans, animals, and spirits. The behavior of animals observed in this liminal space has influenced the masks produced and performed in many Dan communities. Prominent, uneven teeth and a row of antelope horns carved into the mask’s forehead are features associated with Kagle, a troublemaking spirit sometimes identified as a chimpanzee. Kagle performs mischief by throwing sticks at onlookers to warm up a dancing area or by disrupting village festivities with boisterous, erratic movements. As an embodiment of the unruly forces that loom beyond the threshold of the village, Kagle tests the solidity of social institutions and instills appreciation for the value of order.
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