DAN MASK, CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Some of the most common forms of Dan masks include racing masks (Gunye ge), actor masks (Tinan and Bagle) and female faced masks, representing Nyomu nea, a female character involved in initiation rites (Jean Paul Barbier, Art of Côte d'Ivoire, Geneva, 1993, pp. 60-63). Gunye ge were worn in weekly races that took place during the dry seasons in the northern savanna. Only the fastest runner would have the honor of wearing the Gunye ge (François Neyt, Trésors de Côte d'Ivoire, Brussels, 2014, p. 40). 

This Gunye ge mask is oval-faced and displays a high, convex forehead and scarification down the center and sides of the forehead. The eyeholes and mouth are significantly larger than those found in other types of Dan masks, allowing the racer to see clearly and breath freely. The back of the mask has a smooth finish and a concave area at the height of the nose to allow for comfortable wear. Two holes on either side of the mask were used to fasten the mask to the racer's head, while the holes along the jawline may have been used to fasten a false beard (Jean-Paul Barbier, ibid., p. 60).