Deangle (peaceful spirit) mask
Not on view
Dark, lustrous oval facemasks remain a ubiquitous symbol of Dan identity in contemporary Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. Their creation and performance allow invisible, immaterial forces to participate in human affairs. A spirit (ge or gle, literally, “mysterious being”) may appear to an individual in his dreams to request that a mask be commissioned. Such spirits are said to provide specifications relating to their desired costume, choreography, musical accompaniment, and name. The material manifestation of a benevolent ge like Deangle, who collects food for initiation camps, often has narrow, almond-shaped eyes and other attributes understood as feminine. Masks carved with animal features, considered masculine, typically embody more aggressive energies. Over the course of a facemask’s life, it may take on the identity of different spirits and undergo alterations to reflect its evolving status.
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