Dan Gle Mu Mask

Masks are very prominent in Dan culture; masks portraying beautiful women are most representative of the type of mask made by the Dan tribe. Importance is placed on tribal identity over individualism through a focus on past Dan traditions, iconographic archetypes, and adherence to a beauty standard.
The mask is meant to physically embody a beautiful woman and a gentle, feminine, peaceful spirit. The downcast eyes display a tranquil spirit and feminine energy. It is apparent how smooth and delicate these masks are when compared to the Dan male Bugle masks meant to represent the male energy of fierceness and aggression. The Dan beauty masks would often be used in male secret society initiations in order to provide a feminine calming energy to young men undergoing a transition period in their lives.
This forehead bears a vertical marking which enhances the delicacy of the mask’s facial features and recalls a former Dan custom of tattooing a vertical band on the forehead. These masks also signify a region through the selection of materials – masks from the north have a rougher stain while masks from the south have a more polished appearance that is darker in color. This mask is from a southern sub-tribe as identified by its dark, smooth appearance and decoration with cowrie shells.