Saint Paul Public Schools
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Dan Mask, Ivory Coast The Dan tribe chiefly
inhabit the Ivory Coast and Liberia where they arrived in the eighth
century B.C. Dan mythology separates the world into 2 entirely
separate spheres: the sphere of the village and the sphere of the
forest. This wooden mask is one of the myriad types that personify
the "Gle", or the spiritual force of the forest.
Dan tradition
maintains that the Gle dwells in the forest, yet yearns to be
welcomed into the village and participate in the lives of the
people. This the Gle accomplishes by appearing in the dreams of
young male villagers. If the village elders then decide that the
Gle's dreamy appearance was of sufficient import, a mask like this
is created for the dreamer. The mask is then required at all
important occasions. There are many different styles of
Dan Gle mask, depending upon the form the Gle took in the dream. http://ezinearticles.com/?History-and-Tradition-Behind-the-African-Dan-Mask&id=1655711 Article about Dan Masks http://www.randafricanart.com/Dan_Gunyega_mask1.html Article with great pictures |