Gunyege Mask
Tribe: Dan
Country: Ivory Coast / Liberia
Size: Mask - 9.25" (23.5 cm)
Material: Wood, Cowrie Shell, Twine.
These masks of the Dan people, known as Gunyege masks were also called "racer masks". Historically, these masks were used in a game of chase, where the mask wearer would be chase, and when caught would be beaten. It taught agility to the young warriors. The roles would then be reversed, and the captor would then have his chance to chase the mask wearer and inturn beat him when caught. In present day, these masks are still used, however it is on moreof an entertainment level than they were origninally used.
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